John Luther Adams: Become Ocean

Basel Sinfonietta / Andreas Haefliger / Titus Engel – Hamburg International Music Festival

Tickets from €46 15 | 23 | 46 | 65 | 78
John Luther Adams
John Luther Adams © Evan Hurd
Titus Engel
Titus Engel © Kaupo Kikkas
Andreas Haefliger
Andreas Haefliger © Gianmaria Gava
  • Doors open 18:30

  • Pre-concert talk 19:00

  • Start 20:00

  • Interval

  • End ca. 21:55

What does the future hold?

»Life on our planet developed in water. If the polar ice caps melt and the sea level rises, it will end up in the water again.« Based on this simple yet harrowing prediction about the future of humanity, Alaskan composer and environmental activist John Luther Adams wrote his opulent orchestral piece »Become Ocean«, which won a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy. Hardly any other work could be better suited to the motto of the Hamburg International Music Festival – »Future«. It will be performed by one of the best orchestras for new music, the Basel Sinfonietta under its chief conductor Titus Engel.

It is preceded by one of the most rousing piano concertos of the 21st century, premiered at the 2019 London Proms. The Swiss composer Dieter Ammann once again proves himself to be an accomplished composer who is just as happy incorporating influences from his past in funk and jazz bands as he is elements from early modern music. At the piano: Andreas Haeflinger, whose first performance of the work in Boston in 2019 was hailed as an »elemental event« – both here and at a subsequent performance in Lucerne.

Performers

Basel Sinfonietta

Andreas Haefliger piano

conductor Titus Engel

Programme

Dieter Ammann
The Piano Concerto »Gran Toccata«

– Interval –

John Luther Adams
Become Ocean

Pre-Concert Talk

with Verena Mogl (in German)

19:00 / Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal

Festival

Hamburg International Music Festival

Promoter: HamburgMusik

From the Mediatheque : Videos, Podcasts, Articles

Elbphilharmonie Talk with John Luther Adams

The composer talks about the special features of his piece »Inuksuit«, about why music and nature belong together for him, and why he sometimes feels intimidated by Debussy.

Stories with the hashtag #MusicFestival2025

Videos, interviews and backstories – all the articles around the International Music Festival Hamburg 2025 in the Elbphilharmonie Mediatheque.

During your visit

Elbphilharmonie Plaza

A public viewing platform on the 8th floor of the Elbphilharmonie

More about the Plaza

Food and Drink

Before the concert and in the interval

Find out more

Coughing, clapping, chatting

Tips for your concert visit

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