A leading symphony ensemble in Northern Germany, the resident orchestra of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg is the shaper not only of the profile of a great concert venue, but also of today’s classical music scene thanks to the internationally broadcast concerts. The sound and style of the orchestra have been fashioned by such outstanding leaders as the first chief conductor, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, Günter Wand, Christoph Eschenbach, Christoph von Dohnányi and Thomas Hengelbrock; Alan Gilbert has been at the helm since 2019. They bring a truly grand programme to the Liszt Fest, along with a guest, Leif Ove Andsnes, the Norwegian star pianist and resident soloist of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester in the 2026–2027 season. Alan Gilbert thinks that Andsnes is ‘one of the most elegant pianists,’ who is superbly fitted to perform what is one of the most special works of the piano concerto repertoire, Brahms’ No. 2, a ‘lyrical monster.’