Big music festival premiere: SHMF celebrates 40 years of Istanbul highlights!

Big music festival premiere: SHMF celebrates 40 years of Istanbul highlights!

The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) opens its doors this coming weekend, July 5th and 6th, 2025. It is the 40th edition of the popular festival that is entirely dedicated to the impressive music metropolis of Istanbul this year. Because the domestic classical scene gets fresh wind through this cultural focus, which is supposed to inspire the audience. The festival has been held every year in the summer months since 1986 and has developed into one of the largest festivals in Europe. The program is as versatile as the venues in which they take place. From large concert halls to manores and churches to shipyard buildings, everything is included.

This year's opening takes place in the music and congress hall in Lübeck. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach will perform here. The program includes Felix Mendelssohn's famous violin concerto in E minor and Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7. The soloist of the evening will be the violinist Ray Chen, who briefly steps in for the sick pianist Khatia Buniatishvili. Mendelssohn's violin concerto belongs to Chen's trademark and promises to become a special experience. It is worth noting that both opening concerts are already sold out.

diverse program by the end of August

A total of 203 concerts are on the program until August 31, 2025, distributed over Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, parts of Lower Saxony and the south of Denmark. The participants include internationally recognized soloists such as Lang Lang, Anne-Sophie Mother, Midori and Thomas Quasthoff. The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic will also be performed. The concerts are not only limited to classical music; Jazz, pop and even special events with artists such as Sting and the Fantastic Four provide a colorful musical mix.

Another highlight are the five music festivals in the country and two children's music festivals that expand the festival with additional offers. This also includes the shipyard summer in Lübeck, which will take place from August 1 to 8 and offers an exciting program with anatolian and Kurdish music and techno jazz. Family concerts for children from the age of five round off the diverse offer.

support and budget

For the implementation of the festival, a total budget of around 14.5 million euros is provided, of which the state of Schleswig-Holstein contributes almost 1.2 million euros. The financing takes place through membership fees, donations and income from ticket sales. The goal of the SMHMF is to make classic concerts accessible in rural regions and to promote enthusiasm for music. Special projects such as "Singstars!" also stand up for musical education in schools.

Ticket sales have already started and the events attract music lovers from near and far. The enthusiasm and anticipation of the international music scene are noticeable, while the artists and break entertainers are preparing for the big stage. The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival is ready for everyone who does not want to miss the enjoyment of classic and contemporary music to conquer the hearts of the audience. If you want to learn more about the extensive program, you can read this on the SHMF website.