Munich’s open-air summer is currently in full swing, and it feels like every square in the city is transforming into either an open-air stage, a movie theater, or a festival venue. This weekend, classical music fans in particular will get their money’s worth when top-tier orchestras showcase their talents at both the Gärtnerplatz Open-Air and Klassik am Odeonsplatz. The latter features two full days of concerts and welcomes you not only live on site but also at home on your TV or radio.
Munich’s best orchestras
“Klassik am Odeonsplatz” has been around since 2000, when it welcomed the new millennium as the Millennium Concert. Today, it serves as the venue for the annual classical music highlight of Munich’s cultural summer and perfectly complements the opera festival taking place at the same time. Two of the city’s finest orchestras—the BR Symphony Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic—will take the stage and perform for you on two consecutive days.
The spectacle now attracts up to 16,000 people year after year, and even more tune in to the live broadcasts on radio, TV, and streaming services. The Resident, Felherrenhalle, and Theatinerkirche provide the perfect backdrop for this major event.
This year’s program for “Klassik am Odeonsplatz”
As always, the BR Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, will kick off “Klassik am Odeonsplatz” on Saturday, July 11. The program is dedicated to the American composer George Gershwin and begins with his overture “Let ’em Eat Cake,” followed by a piano performance by soloist Kirill Gerstein. After intermission, you can look forward to “Porgy and Bess” and “An American in Paris.” On Sunday, July 12, the Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Lahav Shani, will kick off the second concert evening with Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman.” Afterward, Spanish violinist María Dueñas will make her debut at Odeonsplatz. Following the intermission, the grand finale featuring Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 awaits you.
Tickets for “Klassik am Odeonsplatz” start at just 21€ and go up to 129€. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on both days, and the concerts begin at 8:00 p.m. Intermissions last about 35 minutes, giving you a chance to use the restroom or stock up on snacks and drinks. Portable restrooms are located on Ludwigstraße, while various food and beverage stands offer a wide range of culinary options . You may bring your own non-alcoholic beverages in PET bottles of up to 0.5 liters.
📍 Location: Odeonsplatz
📅 Dates: Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12
💶 Price information: Starting at €21
Broadcasts and Live Streams
If you can’t be there in person, you also have the option to watch “Klassik am Odeonsplatz” via live stream or catch up on it later:
- Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12, starting at 8 p.m.: Live stream on the ARD Mediathek and on YouTube via the ARD Klassik channel
- Saturday, July 11, starting at 8:03 p.m.: Radio broadcast on BR Klassik and as part of the ARD Radio Festival
- Saturday, July 11, starting at 9:25 p.m.: Delayed TV broadcast on 3sat
- Friday, July 17, starting at 6:03 p.m.: Radio broadcast of the second day of concerts on BR Klassik
- Friday, July 17, starting at 11:50 p.m.: Highlights from the first day of concerts on ARD
- Saturday, July 18, starting at 8:15 p.m.: TV broadcast of the second day of concerts on 3sat
