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Magical sounds: Altinoglu delights at the festival in Colmar!
On July 4th and 5th, 2025, Alain Altinoglu performed works by Brahms and Rachmaninoff with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra in Alsace.
Magical sounds: Altinoglu delights at the festival in Colmar!
The sound worlds of classical music recently returned to the beautiful Église Saint-Matthieu in Colmar. On the evenings of July 4th and 5th, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Alain Altinoglu presented a top-class program that made the hearts of music lovers beat faster. Altinoglu, who has been the festival's artistic director since 2023, and his orchestra impressively showed how complex and emotional the works of bravura pieces from Brahms to Rachmaninov are.
What excited the audience the most? On the first evening, talented pianist Alexander Malofeev performed Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2, a work that captivated listeners with its technical brilliance and the deep feelings expressed by Malofeev. The acoustics of the church enhanced the performance and allowed the sound to truly blossom. In an encore that captivated the audience, Malofeev interpreted Glinka's Nocturne La Séparation (1839).
An evening full of musical stories
The second concert evening was dominated by Rimski-Korsakov's legendary *Schéhérazade*. Here the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra shone with remarkable teamwork and musical homogeneity, which perfectly accentuated the dramatic narratives. The acoustics of the room also helped ensure that every sound was heard clearly and full of nuances.
Without a doubt, Altinoglu has shown a good knack for solo performances. Sebastian Berner, who appeared as solo trumpet player, absolutely shone in the Haydn Trumpet Concerto Hob. VIIe/1. His execution was precise and full of emotion, which inspired impressive applause from the audience. The third concert evening followed Brahms' *Variations on a Theme by Haydn* and his *Symphony No. 3*, where the orchestra demonstrated its tonal culture. Despite minor uncertainties, the overall execution was robust and convincing.
Diversity of composers
The program also included works by Igor Stravinsky, Thierry Escaich and Antonín Dvořák, who brought not only complex structures but also profound emotion to the performance. The list of composers performed during the festival in Colmar reflects the diversity and depth of classical music, ranging from Baroque to Viennese Classical to modern. A truly festive experience for all music lovers!
The Festival International de Colmar remains a key highlight in Alsace, attracting music lovers from near and far. The outstanding achievements of the artists and the wonderful setting of the Église Saint-Matthieu make this place a center of cultural enrichment. We can only hope that such musical highlights will not be withheld from Cologne residents and anyone else who is interested in the future.