With the melodies of the Oscar-winning "West Side Story", musical genius Leonard Bernstein is the focus of the concert on August 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Frankfurt's Lennépark. The modern version of "Romeo and Juliet" shifts the love story to New York in the 1950s, where two youth gangs fight a fierce battle for control of the neighborhood.
The musical premiered on Broadway in New York in 1957. Since the award-winning film adaptation four years later, it has become a pop icon in music history. Together with his friend Sid Ramin, Bernstein also composed a version for two pianos, which turned the work into a grandiose, virtuoso piece.
The pianists Anna and Ines Walachowski will perform it at the evening concert of the "Klassik ohne Grenzen" summer festival.
The following day at 11 a.m., Anouchka and Katharina Hack will play pieces of music written by female composers on the cello and piano. "Alle Menschen werden... Schwestern" is the title of their program, which ranges from Fanny Hensel to Alicia Keys. Until the pop era, women were not really able to assert themselves as composers. Against this backdrop, the work and creations of emancipated female composers such as Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Schumann and Nadia and Lili Boulanger are of particular importance. The music of these women is the starting point for the sisters Anouchka and Katharina Hack, who also trace the inseparable bond between siblings such as Clara and Robert Schumann or Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn in music.
Admission to these and the following concerts is free. Until August 30, the summer festival "Klassik ohne Grenzen" invites you to a musical journey of discovery in the most beautiful parks of the twin city of Frankfurt (Oder)-Słubice. The accompanying culinary offerings tempt you to picnic in the countryside. Presenters from Antenne Brandenburg will guide you through the program. Professional guided tours of the park will be offered after the concerts.
An overview of the rest of the program
Sunday, 17. August 2025 | 11:00 a.m. | Lienaupark, Frankfurt (Oder)
A morning with flamenco
Gypsy jazz for two or sometimes three guitars and a double bass
Born in Mönchengladbach, guitarist Joscho Stephan combines traditional gypsy jazz with influences from Latin, classical and pop to create an unmistakable style. His debut album "Swinging Strings" (1999) was named CD of the month by the American Guitar Player. In Frankfurt, he will not only be performing with his trio, but also with Polish star guitarist Krzysztof Pełech as a guest.
Joscho Stephan – Solo guitar
Sven Jungbeck – Rhythm guitar
Volker Kamp – Double bass
Krzysztof Pełech – Guitar
Saturday, 23. August 2025 | 4:00 p.m.| Gertraudenpark, Frankfurt (Oder)
Gruselige Bilder einer Ausstellung
Music program for children based on the music of Modest Mussorgsky
The TV presenter and speaker Malte Arkona was already a guest at "Klassik ohne Grenzen" and took the young festival audience on a journey through the world of the violin. This time he comes with a story of the "Scary Pictures at an Exhibition" based on motifs by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky. His famous piano work describes paintings and drawings by his friend Viktor Hartmann.
Malte Arkona – Narrator
Katarzyna Wasiak – Piano
Saturday, 23. August 2025 | 7:30 p.m. | Plac Bohaterów, Słubice
Jazz without borders
From Polish folk music to classical music and jazz
The two exceptional talents met musically in the "Poetry" project – an album characterized by a Norwegian ECM-like sound, but still full of Slavic melancholy. The chemistry between Adam Bałdych's expressive violin playing and Helge Lien's transparent, lyrical piano playing is magical. They manage to merge chamber music and jazz – without ever losing themselves in virtuosity.
Adam Bałdych – Violin
Helge Lien – Piano
Sunday, 24. August 2025 | 11:00 a.m. | Gertraudenpark, Frankfurt (Oder)
Vivaldi, Grieg, Chopin and more ...
A dangerously good saxophone quartet!
The Whoop Group is a Polish saxophone quartet that has made a name for itself with its explosive mix of classical music, jazz and pop covers. The members – all classical saxophonists – show that a saxophone quartet has to be anything but stiff. The group became famous through their viral YouTube videos, for example with their wild version of Rossini's William Tell Overture or their own interpretations of Queen, Vivaldi and film soundtracks.
Jakub Muras – Soprano saxophone
Mateusz Dobosz – Alto saxophone
Krzysztof Koszowski – Tenor saxophone
Szymon Zawodny – Baritone saxophone
Sunday, 30. August 2025 | 7:00 p.m. | Anger, Frankfurt (Oder)
Final concert
Filmic and romantic
At the end of "Klassik ohne Grenzen", film music will be played in the magical atmosphere of Frankfurt's Anger – with the full power and splendor of the symphonic festival orchestra with musicians from the Brandenburg State Orchestra and the Zielona Góra Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Howard Griffiths. Lovers of classical music can look forward to a performance of Mieczysław Karłowicz's violin concerto with Polish soloist Maria Machowska. And fans of film music will also get their money's worth: with themes from Indiana Jones, E.T., Schindler's List, Interstellar and The Lion King.
As every year, the festival ends with the festive sounds of Edward Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory" – with the support of the Frankfurt Singakademie, of course.
Howard Griffiths – Conductor
Maria Machowska – Violin
Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt
Philharmonic Orchestra Zielona Góra
Singakademie Frankfurt (Oder)
Organizer: Messe und Veranstaltungs GmbH
Partners: Brandenburg State Orchestra, Gorzów Philharmonic Orchestra, Zielona Góra Philharmonic Orchestra, Słubice Cultural Center, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
Supporters: Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, City of Frankfurt (Oder), IMD Labor Oderland, Sparkasse Oder-Spree, Stadtwerke Frankfurt (Oder) GmbH, Wohnungswirtschaft Frankfurt (Oder) GmbH, Hanse Club Wirtschaft für Frankfurt (Oder) und Eisenhüttenstadt e. V..V.
