On February 27, Yuja Wang will join the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra for the German Federal President’s Benefit Concert which helps to financially assist social and cultural organizations in Germany. Taking place annually, this year’s performance will take place in Hamburg and will specifically help fund projects that will supply medical care to the homeless. Under the baton of the orchestra’s principal conductor, Alan Gilbert, this thrilling concert will feature repertoire by Beethoven and Liszt.
The program will begin with journalist Sandra Maischberger interviewing the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher. Next, the orchestra will play Beethoven’s Leonore Overture, a work that was written to open the composer’s opera Fidelio, but was later discarded for another overture in its place. Featuring Ms. Wang, the next piece on the program will be Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major which has an opening theme said to have been inspired by the words: “Das versteht Ihr alle nicht, haha!” (None of you understand this, haha!). Concluding the concert will be Beethoven’s triumphant Symphony No. 5, one of the most well-known compositions in classical music.
The concert will be broadcasted live at 11 a.m. CET on the Elbphilharmonie media page and on ARD television.