Wed, 20 Aug 2025 20:00

Elbphilharmonie Großer Saal

Arctic Philharmonic / Eldbjørg Hemsing / Nicolò Foron

»Arctic« – Elbphilharmonie Summer

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Tickets from €15 €15 | 23 | 46 | 65 | 78

Doors open 19:00
Start 20:00
End ca. 21:30

The unique beauty of the Arctic Circle

The world beyond the Arctic Circle is a realm like no other – vast expanses, majestic mountains and crystal-clear fjords define its breathtaking beauty. The Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing has captured these landscapes in music, performing alongside the Arctic Philharmonic, the world’s northernmost professional orchestra. Their programme combines Nordic classics from composers like Grieg and Rautavaara with specially commissioned pieces by film composers including Frode Fjellheim (title song to »Frozen«) and Jacob Shea (»Planet Earth II«).

Eldbjørg Hemsing describes the programme as »film music for the concert hall or a soundtrack for an inner journey«. The violinist seeks to give voice to her Norwegian homeland, challenging misconceptions: »It’s very easy to think about the Arctic as a rugged, uninhabitable place, but in fact it is a region of stunning beauty that is full of life and shows how everything is connected in fragile cycles. With this project I wanted to create a lush, majestic soundscape that pays tribute to the beauty of it all, and raise awareness for the urgent threats posed by climate change.«

Accompanied by the Arctic Philharmonic, based in Bodø and Tromsø, the performance is deeply rooted in Norwegian and Nordic traditions. »Arctic« also shines a spotlight on the musical heritage of the Sámi people, who have lived in harmony with the landscape of the Arctic Circle for centuries. With atmospheric lighting and thoughtful narration, the concert becomes an immersive journey into the magic of the polar night and endless Arctic daylight.

Performers

Arctic Philharmonic

Eldbjørg Hemsing violin

conductor Nicolò Foron

Programme

Lasse Thoresen
Lyden av Arktis (The Sound of the Arctic)

Einojuhani Rautavaara
Cantus Arcticus, Op. 61

Henning Sommerro
Vårsøg (Spring Search)

Frode Fjellheim
Under the Arctic Moon

Selim Palmgren
Snöflingor (Snowflakes), Op. 57/2 / Adaptation by Ben Palmer

Einojuhani Rautavaara
Whispering / Adaptation by Ben Palmer

Ola Gjeilo
Dawn / Adaptation by Ben Palmer

Edvard Grieg
Våren (Last Spring) / from: Two Elegiac Melodies for String Orchestra, Op. 34 (adaptation by Ben Palmer)

Jean Sibelius
Allegro ma non tanto / from: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 47

Jacob Shea
The Arctic Suite (excerpts)

Jean Sibelius
Adagio / from: Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105

Festival

Elbphilharmonie Summer

Find out more

Promoter: HamburgMusik

From the Mediatheque : Videos, Podcasts, Articles

Stories with the hashtag #Highlights

The most spectacular music videos, exciting interviews and background information – a best-of from the Elbphilharmonie Mediathek. #Highlights

Stories with the hashtag #Summer

Highlights, concerts and interesting facts about the »Elbphilharmonie Summer« festival #summer

Location : Elbphilharmonie
Großer Saal

Heart of the Elbphilharmonie: the Grand Hall seats 2,100 guests in the »vineyard« style. The stage for artists and orchestras is situated at the centre of the concert hall and is surrounded by terraced seating.

Arrival time

The Elbphilharmonie is a special building situated in a special place. Allow for plenty of time for getting to the Elbphilharmonie and the way to the concert area. We suggest visitors arrive at the Elbphilharmonie Plaza not later than 30 minutes before the start of the concert or event. Late seating is not guaranteed and latecomers may not be admitted to the concert hall.

Concert tickets for the Grand and Recital Halls authorise a visit to the Plaza from two hours before the start of the concert or event. Visitors to the Kaistudios require a separate Plaza ticket to visit the Plaza.

Admission times:

Events without pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 60 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 30 minutes before the start of the event

Events with pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 90 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 15 minutes before the start of the talk

If a pre-concert talk is offered for this event, it is noted above under PROGRAMME.
Getting here

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
Platz der Deutschen Einheit
20457 Hamburg

The Elbphilharmonie can be easily reached by bus, underground, bicycle and ferry.

The nearest stops include:
Underground line U3: Baumwall
Underground line U4: Überseequartier
Bus 2, 111: Am Kaiserkai (Elbphilharmonie)
Bus 6: Auf dem Sande (Speicherstadt)
Ferry 72 (from Landungsbrücken pier): »Elbphilharmonie« pier
StadtRAD (bicycle sharing system) stations: U Baumwall (Elbphilharmonie) and Am Kaiserkai / Großer Grasbrook

Multistorey car park in the Elbphilharmonie (open 24/7, 435 parking spaces):
Please note that visitors to the Elbphilharmonie should use the entrance marked »Elbphilharmonie«. The entrance »Elbphilharmonie Hotel« is reserved for »The Westin Hamburg« hotel guests.

Please find more information about prices and advance booking of the discounted flat rate on this page: arrival by car
Finding your seat

All visitors enter the building via the main entrance; access to the concert hall is via the »Plaza«, the viewing platform on the 8th floor of the Elbphilharmonie. The Plaza can be reached from the entrance area via the long escalator. Your tickets will be checked twice, at the access control in the entrance area and on the Plaza in front of the staircase to the Great Hall.

The hall entrances are on floors 12, 13, 15 and 16.
Cloakroom

The cloakrooms are located on the 11th floor (fee: € 2). Jackets and handbags may be taken into the hall.

Walking-stick umbrellas, bags sized A3 (42 x 30 cm) or above, luggage and other bulky items must be stored in the lockers (largest size 27 x 87 x 47 cm) located in the corridor leading to the ticket shop on the ground floor (on the right-hand side of the entrance area).

Strollers and prams can be left with the admissions personnel on the Plaza. Wheeled walkers can be handed in at the hall entrances.
Toilet Facilities

The central toilet facility is located on the 13th floor of the Grand Hall Foyer. Further facilities can be found on floors 11, 12 and 15.

Fully accessible toilets are located on floors 12 (north side) and 13 (right-hand side of the large bar). Our front-of-house staff is happy to assist you in this regard.
Photography and video recordings

It is forbidden to take photographs or record videos during a concert or event. Video recordings and photography are permitted for private purposes only on the Plaza and in the foyers as well as before the start or following an event in the concert hall, provided that you respect the privacy of other visitors and do not interfere with regular business operations. Employees may not be photographed or filmed.

Photography, audio or video recordings of concerts and events are strictly prohibited.

Event-related video recordings or photographs for editorial or commercial purposes must be authorised by the Press Office of the Elbphilharmonie.
Accessibility

All halls and spaces are accessible for visitors with disabilities. More information at www.elbphilharmonie.de/en/accessibility.

Lifts to the Plaza are located in the tunnel on the right-hand side of the Tube (long escalator). From the Plaza, access to the Grand and Recital Hall foyers is via lifts, also located to the right. Please note: cloakrooms for visitors to the Grand Hall are only located on the 11th floor. From there, the upper floors can be accessed via further lifts.
Coughing, clapping, chatting – Tips for your concert visit

A concert at the Elbphilharmonie is a unique experience for both audience and artists. Guests and musicians alike rave about the precise acoustics in the Grand Hall. You can hear every note, even from the highest balcony.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: even presumably quiet noises from the audience are clearly audible in the entire hall. We therefore ask our visitors to take the following recommendations into consideration: Tips for your concert visit