"All You Need Is Love " - the title of the five-part concert series by the Philharmonie Salzburg was the program in the Great Festival Hall, which was filled to the last seat: peace and love for a better world is the message of many of the greatest world hits by the British beat, rock and pop band The Beatles. Chief conductor Elisabeth Fuchs opened the evening with a minute's silence of gratitude for 80 years of peace in Austria.

The fact that the symphonic interpretation of the Beatles is also a matter close to the heart of the "Austrian Queen of Pop" Monika Ballwein was palpable from the first to the last bar of the songs superbly arranged by Thorsten Schäffer, from the singer's emotional introductions to the harmony in the interaction with the musicians and the large choir of the Philharmonie Salzburg.

The audience was quickly drawn into the action with rousing "best of" titles, improvisations by the soloists and the good-humored double conférence of Fuchs and Ballwein, and rewarded the performance with standing ovations even before the interval.

Even 55 years after their break-up, this exceptional band from Liverpool still manages to bring a concert hall to the boil, to touch and connect people. Music may not change the world permanently, but it does manage to "make it better", at least for a few hours.

The program: Eleanor Rigby, Can't Buy Me Love, Here Comes the Sun, Something, Come Together, Yellow Submarine, Help!, Lady Madonna, Day Tripper, With A Little Help From My Friends, Blackbird, The Long and Winding Road, All You Need Is Love, Penny Lane, Let It Be, Hey Jude, A Hard Day's, Night and We Can Work It Out.

For all those who have spontaneously caught Beatles fever: The concert will be performed again on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Remaining tickets are available all day via the Philharmonie Salzburg ticket hotline and at the Festspielhaus box office. You can find the online program here.

 

Photos: Erika Mayer

A Symphonic Tribute to THE BEATLES
Let It Be, Yesterday, Hey Jude and more with Monika Ballwein and the great choir of the Philharmonie Salzburg

Monika Ballwein - vocals
Martin Wöss - piano
Thorsten Schäffer - arrangements
Sebastian Aigner - choir rehearsals
Elisabeth Fuchs - Conductor
Choir of the Philharmonie Salzburg
Philharmonic Orchestra Salzburg

DO - May 8, 2025 - 19:30
FR - May 9, 2025 - 15:00
FR - May 9, 2025 - 19:30
SA - May 10, 2025 - 15:00
SA - May 10, 2025 - 19:30
Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg

Press contact:
Andrea Lengdobler
Salzburg Philharmonic Orchestra
+43 664 4200605