Rattle conducts mega-concert for 40th 'Kissinger Sommer' festival

The renowned "Kissinger Sommer" music festival in Germany is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a grand open-air concert on July 12. Stardirigent Sir Simon Rattle will conduct the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, leading a performance featuring over 600 choir singers from across Bavaria. The highlight of the evening is Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," complemented by pieces from Aaron Copland, Judith Weir, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

This special event is poised to be one of the largest projects in the festival's history, boasting approximately 3,500 seats and requiring extensive technical infrastructure. The concert is expected to last about two and a half hours, including a 20-minute intermission. The performance will also be recorded by Bayerischer Rundfunk, further underscoring its significance.

The "Kissinger Sommer" festival, which began in 1986, is an international music event that continues until July 18. It draws an estimated 30,000 visitors each year, with many international guests flocking to the spa town. Alexander Steinbeis, the artistic director for over four years, previously served as the director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin for 13 years.

Since June 11, the spa town has hosted a variety of musical events, including symphony concerts, chamber music, recitals, chanson evenings, and late-night performances. These events traditionally take place in elegant venues such as the Regentenbau, the Kurtheater, the Arkadenbau, and the Luitpoldbad, offering attendees an immersive experience, often evoking the 18th century. The festival's enduring appeal has consistently attracted thousands of international visitors to Bad Kissingen.