Håkan Hardenberger director/trumpet

For the final instalment of our 2026/27 New Dimensions series, we journey deep into Beethoven’s creative universe, exploring the influences, ideals and innovations that shaped his world, and how they resonate today.

We are delighted to welcome back the legendary trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger. He directs and performs Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto, a glittering showpiece by Beethoven’s contemporary and friend. From there, the sound world shifts to Brett Dean, whose Adagio molto e mesto and Testament offer poignant meditations on Beethoven’s struggles and triumphs, reframing his spirit through a 21st century lens.

The finale is a bold collage: excerpts from Beethoven’s ballet The Creatures of Prometheus, interwoven with HK Gruber’s irreverent Three Mob Pieces and Manhattan Broadcasts. Expect sparks to fly as classical ideals collide with contemporary invention – a vibrant dialogue between past and present.