Hamburg orchestra in historic visit

Under the baton of renowned conductor Kent Nagano, the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg made its long-awaited debut at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts, presenting a two-night program of German-Austrian classics.

The repertoire included Mozart's arrangement of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D Minor, Mozart's Piano Concerto No 24 in C Minor, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3, and his spirited Symphony No 7.

While Nagano previously performed in China with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in 2015, this marked the first time he brought the Hamburg Philharmonic to the country — a significant cultural moment for both the orchestra and Chinese audiences.

Since assuming the dual roles of general music director of the Hamburg State Opera and chief conductor of the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg in 2015, Nagano has guided the ensemble through a transformative decade.

In speaking about Hamburg, Nagano drew a vivid comparison: "Hamburg is like Shanghai — a gateway between Germany and the world." As one of Europe's oldest cultural hubs, the city has fostered vibrant artistic exchange for centuries. He highlighted how the orchestra's sonic identity, shaped by both tradition and diversity, evokes "the sea, the sky, and even the evolving identity of a young Brahms''.

Founded in 1828, the Hamburg Philharmonic is the city's oldest and largest orchestra and carries forward a musical legacy that traces back to the beginnings of Hamburg's operatic tradition in 1678.