Cristian Măcelaru & Mao Fujita

A concert evening full of contrasts: Under the baton of conductor Cristian Măcelaru, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra impressively blends contemporary soundscapes with masterpieces of the 20th century and the late Romantic period.

The program opens with Missy Mazzoli’s fascinating *Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres) *—a dazzling orchestral work full of floating timbres and cosmic energy. Following this, Japanese star pianist Mao Fujita makes his debut with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. With Sergei Rachmaninoff’s legendary Piano Concerto No. 3, he takes on one of the greatest challenges in the piano repertoire and captivates the audience with technical brilliance, musical depth, and extraordinary expressiveness.

After intermission, Béla Bartók’s mysterious *Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta* will be performed—a milestone in orchestral literature that continues to fascinate to this day with its rhythmic sophistication, atmospheric density, and impressive sonic architecture.