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Concert Over there”: Music tells of German division and unity!
On October 3rd, 2025, the Dresden Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the division of Germany with the concert “Over there” in the Hofer Freiheitshalle.
Concert Over there”: Music tells of German division and unity!
In a remarkable homage to the division and reunification of Germany, the Dresden Symphony Orchestra On October 3rd, the day of German unity, a concert under the title “Over there” in the Hofer Freiheitshalle. The event is not only musically but also emotionally profound and will introduce the audience to the story in an extraordinary way.
The special thing about this concert is that it begins with a wall that separates the orchestra, hall and audience. While uniformed border guards patrol the edge of the stage, conductor Jonathan Stockhammer stands on a watchtower. This production, which already caused a stir at the Dresden Kulturpalast in 2022, aims to bring history to life up close - an idea that inspired artistic director Markus Rindt. Rindt, who himself fled the GDR in 1989, sees the project as a personal concern and emphasizes that reunification also shaped the lives of many orchestra musicians.
A multifaceted program
The concert opens with the song arrangement “Hüben und Drüben”, which combines pop and rock songs from East and West. This is followed by the premiere of “Utopian Melodies – yelling at Me!” by the Munich composer Markus Lehmann-Horn, in which sound material from various hymns is processed. After the break, the piece “Landmark” by the British composer Charlotte Bray will be performed, followed by Igor Stravinsky’s concerto for piano and wind instruments. According to Bray, the merger of East and West Germany is a monumental moment that she addresses in her music.
The concert is not only a musical event, but also a platform for discussions about national identities and social walls. The Dresden Symphony Orchestra is characterized by its willingness to deal with political issues. Already in 2017 they protested musically on the border between Mexico and the USA against Donald Trump's planned wall and in 2013 they performed in the West Bank to send a signal for peace.
Musical experiences in Berlin
For those interested who cannot be in Hof, there are also alternative musical experiences to mark the fall of the Berlin Wall. They organize there Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra a free special concert to celebrate the joy of the opening of the Berlin Wall. Daniel Barenboim will not only conduct but also appear as a soloist. The program includes, among other things, Beethoven's first piano concerto and the seventh symphony.
Other celebrations include the “Konzert für Berlin” festival, which brings numerous well-known artists such as Udo Lindenberg, the Toten Hosen and Nina Hagen to the stage. With over 50,000 visitors from East and West, the enthusiasm for these musical celebrations is unmistakable.
The Dresden Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra are sending a clear signal of unity by making both memories and the present musically appealing. October 3, 2025 will not only be a day of memories, but also of hope for a continued united and peaceful future.