Spurred on by the guiding theme of the ​‘Rituals That Unite Us’, the Bamberger Symphoniker and conductor Jakub Hrůša unite with the Edinburgh International Festival to explore our collective rituals and their power to shape our identity and connect us – as a festival and as a community.

The orchestra performs Hans Rott’s little-known First Symphony at this year’s Festival on 6 August at Usher Hall. Alongside this symphonic masterpiece are works by Bruckner and Mahler, supporters of Rott. The programme showcases Symphonic Prelude by Bruckner and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen by Mahler. The Lieder is sung by mezzo-soprano Catriona Morison. 

Then, the orchestra ingeniously couples Dvořák’s Te Deum with his son-in-law Josef Suk’s poignant Asrael symphony on 7 August. For the final performance on 9 August, the orchestra performs Dvořák’s New World Symphony in combination with Brahms’ Double Concerto.

Jakub Hrůša and Bamberger Symphoniker’s recent recording of works by Rott, Bruckner and Mahler won Hrůša the 2023 Opus Klassik Conductor of the Year Award.

Bamberger Symphoniker is a resident orchestra at this year’s Festival.