Hamburg: Germany’s City Of Music Presents Festival Program 2018

New Elbphilharmonie Season and Music Festivals are Reason Enough to Visit Northern Germany’s Maritime City. Hamburg  – Since the opening of its iconic new concert hall, the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg has found its place amongst the world’s most interesting music cities, with programs, festivals and concerts spanning all genres from great classical composers, the Beatles and the distinctive Hamburg sound to arguably the most vibrant music scene in continental Europe. 2018 highlights include: Summer Festivals Kumasi Washington, China Moses, Marius Neset & Guests, Theo Croker & DVRK FUNK and Nneka are but a few of the acts lined up for the 2018 ELBJAZZ Festival taking place on June 1 and 2. As part of the festival, some 50 live concerts from different varieties of jazz and crossover genres can be experienced against the unique backdrop of Hamburg’s port. The festival’s open-air and indoor stages are located at some truly unexpected venues, and of course the Elbphilharmonie will also be part of the game. With venues ranging from idyllic castles to cool industrial halls across the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein and even parts of Denmark, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) will be held from June 30 until to August 26, 2018. Again, the main focus of this beloved festival is on classical music. The 2018 SHMF programme pays special tribute to Romantic composer and musical writer Robert Schumann, and will include performances by classical music superstars Jonas Kaufmann, Sol Gabetta, and Anna Netrebko . Young, bold, loud and arty – that’s the essence of the MS Dockville festival on the Elbe island of Wilhelmsburg. From 17 to 19 August 17-19, this open-air music and art festival will feature bands such as ALT-J, Fink, Honne, and Everything Everything and is sure to attract a cool crowd. From September 19-22, the Reeperbahn Festival has long become an essential part of the international festival calendar. Today, Europe’s biggest club festival has come to represent Hamburg’s spirit as a live music location. With more than 900 program items and numerous locations across the St Pauli neighborhood, the festival provides a stage for up-and-coming bands and established artists alike. Catering for a broad range of music styles, this year’s festival will yet again include the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. Elbphilharmonie Hamburg to kick off 2018/19 concert season Since the opening of the Elbphilharmonie in January 2017, more than one million people enjoyed a concert at Hamburg’s new music hall on the Elbe river. Starting in September 2018, the Elbphilharmonie’s concert program is just as contrasting as Hamburg itself and includes orchestral concerts, concert opera performances with some of the world’s finest orchestras, piano sessions, song recitals, and string orchestra performances – as well as world music, electro and pop concerts. The anticipation of the new season, ticket demand will be high for the 900,000 tickets to some 700 events. Program highlights include prominent guests from around the world, such as the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra London and the Philharmonic Orchestras of Vienna, Berlin and Munich, as well as conductors Teodor Currentzis, Sir Simon Rattle and Andris Nelsons. Tickets for most events are on sale now and can be ordered online until 25 May. Further individual tickets will go on sale on 21 June. More information at www.elbphilharmonie.com. Hotel bookings and further information at www.hamburg-travel.com

Hamburg Cruise Days 2017: World’s Largest Cruise Festival Will Again Attract Hundreds Of Thousands Of Cruise Aficionados And A Record Number Of 11 Cruise Ships To The Hamburg Harbor.

.  Hamburg’s love for anything cruise and maritime events will once again culminate in the 6TH HAMBURG CRUISE DAYS, September 8-10, 2017, when the city’s port will set the stage for both the cruise industry and cruise fans. With a record number of eleven participating cruise liners, the Hamburg Cruise Days is the biggest public cruise festival worldwide. On shore and off, spectators can partake in a diverse program that includes a parade of cruise liners, fireworks, harbor illuminations, culinary experiences, special promotions, ship presentations, music, and harbor cruises. The ships Nine magnificent cruise liners and two river cruise ships will visit the port during the Hamburg Cruise Days: AIDAprima (AIDA Cruises), Silver Wind (Silversea Cruises), Norwegian Jade (Norwegian Cruise Line), EUROPA and EUROPA 2 (both Hapag-Lloyd Cruises), MSC Preziosa (MSC Cruises), Mein Schiff 3 (TUI Cruises), Albatros and Amadea (both Phoenix Reisen), Sans Souci (Plantours Cruises) and Katharina von Bora (nicko cruises). Highlights on the water The one-mile long GRAND PARADE of cruise ships on Saturday evening, September 9 is the highlight of the Cruise Days. Led by the AIDAprima, the parade of six cruise liners and 24 escort ships will sail down the Elbe River against the backdrop of magnificent fireworks displays. The ships total 502,946 gross registered tons and will carry 17,140 passengers, which can take in the spectacle and city skyline from the water.  Other highlights include the Silversea Cruises fireworks on Friday, as well as the Hamburg Cruise Night, during which passenger ships will offer evening cruises on the Elbe river. Magical backdrop: Blue Port Hamburg From September 1 Hamburg’s harbor will be illuminated as part of the BLUE PORT HAMBURGinstallation, when light artist Michael Batz again creates a magical visual experience by immersing over one hundred objects and buildings into a dreamlike blue light.  Michael Otremba, managing director of the Hamburg Convention Bureau GmbH and Hamburg Tourismus GmbH, comments: “The world of cruising touches people’s hearts and is part of our city’s identity and history. With the Hamburg Cruise Days we are creating an emotional experience by bringing together ships and people. Along with the city’s new landmark, the Elbphilharmonie, pictures from the port bathed in blue light will go around the world.” The World of Cruises on land On land, visitors can experience a diverse program on 15 themed waterfront “islands”, where participating cruise lines present themselves and invite the public to join them for special events and experiences. Other “islands” will focus on Arts & Culture and Health & Fitness, and a nostalgic maritime market; all complemented by a program of music, shows, poetry slams and more presented on several stages. Cruise City Hamburg Every year Hamburg celebrates several large-scale cruise- and maritime events, ranging from the legendary Harbor Birthday in May to the Cruise Days and Elbe Festival in September, to ship naming ceremonies and first call parties. Events are synchronized and invite both the general public and industry experts to join. Just prior to the Hamburg Cruise Days, Seatrade Europe – the leading cruise industry fair in Europe (Sept. 6-8) is taking place in the city, as well as the travel sales event fvw Cruise Live (Sept 8) and two events (Sept 5 and 6) organized by CLIA, the world's largest cruise association.  Locals love to welcome cruise ships and are deeply (and historically) connected to seafaring. Hamburg is also one of the few harbors where passengers can walk from their ship to downtown. In 2016, a record number of 171 ships called on the Hamburg port, carrying over 710,000 passengers. During the 2017 season, Cruise Gate Hamburg is expecting around 200 ships with approximately 800,000 passengers. More Passengers and Cruise Liners from the USA There is a strong Cunard connection between Hamburg and New York, as well as a nonstop flight from Newark (United). Hamburg offers many pre/post opportunities for Americans and is also a hub for NCL’s Northern European itineraries.  All in all, eight American Cruise Lines are calling port in Hamburg in 2017: Holland America Line with 1 ship (2 calls), Princess Cruises with 2 ships (2 calls), Oceania Cruises with 1 ship (2 calls), Norwegian Cruise Line with 1 ship (7 calls), Silversea Cruise with two ships (2 calls incl. Cruise Days), Azamara Club Cruises with 1 ship (1 call), Royal Caribbean International with 1 ship (1 call) and Cunard Line (British with many American guests) with 2 ships (7 calls, including Cruise Days). In the first six months of 2017, a total of 8,698 American cruise passengers started, disembarked or transferred through Hamburg. Further details and the events calendar are available at www.hamburgcruisedays.com.

Hamburg Cruise Days and Blue Port copyright: bcsmedia, Hamburg 2015

Travelore News: UNESCO Declares Part of The German City Hamburg A World Heritage Site

Hamburg became an even more important city for travel and tourism. It's now a destination tourism attraction for those wanting to visit a World Heritage sites.

The UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has approved Hamburg's application for the "Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus-District with Chilehaus" to be included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list. The decision was made at today's Committee meeting in Bonn, Germany. The Committee, which comprises 21 UNESCO member states, has acknowledged the outstanding universal value of Hamburg's urban, maritime warehouse complex and office district from the early 20th century. Hamburg now has its first World Heritage Site.

The World Heritage Committee based its decision on the belief that the Speicherstadt and the Kontorhaus-District are "an outstanding example" of buildings and ensembles which "illustrate significant stages in human history". The outstanding universal value of the two monofunctional but complementary areas is reflected in Hamburg's historic warehouse-district with its connecting network of roads, canals and bridges dating from 1885 to 1927 and in the modern red-brick architecture of the office building ensembles for port-related use from the 1920s to 1940s.

The Speicherstadt is the world's largest historic warehouse-complex. It extends over 26 hectares in the heart of Hamburg's port and comprises 17 building complexes in the style of Gothic red-brick, with more than 300,000 m2 of storage area. High-value goods such as coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, tobacco, and, in recent decades, oriental carpets, have been stored behind the thick walls of these warehouses. In addition to its architectural highlights, tourism-venues such as the Hamburg Dungeon, the Speicherstadtmuseum and the Miniatur Wunderland - the world's largest miniature railway - make the Speicherstadt one of Hamburg's tourism hotspots.

Situated just opposite, the Kontorhaus-District in the south of Hamburg's old town went down in architectural history as Continental Europe's first business district. The ensemble is built in the 1920s and 1930s under the baton of Fritz Schumacher. The Chilehaus, which is reminiscent of a ship's bow, represents the most significant artistic and architectural achievement of German Brick Expressionism. It strongly influenced brick architecture of the 1920s and 1930s in Northern-Europe and is also one of Germany's first high-rise buildings.

Off-Beat Ways To Explore Hamburg

Explore the Cooler Side of Germany’s Second Largest City with Guided Tours Focused on Alternative Culture, Art and Local Flair.

Known for maritime flair, understated sophistication, a famous red light district-turned-entertainment hub, and one of the most design-oriented waterfronts in Europe, Hamburg now offers various tours that will satisfy the curiosity of every visitor by offering a glance into the city’s alternative culture.

Below is a list of Hamburg’s most interesting – and off-beat - tours.

Hamburg Beatles Tour
With about 280 concerts on Hamburg stages the Beatles “grew up” in Hamburg, as John Lennon put it. As the originator of the musical Beatles-Tour Stefanie Hempel musically guides tourists in the Beatles’ footsteps through the famous red light district of St. Pauli. Stops include the Indra, a former strip club where the band met Ringo Starr; a hidden backyard famous as the location for the “Rock’n’Roll” album cover shoot; the Star Club where the Beatles played on opening night; and the house where the Fab Four bunked after arriving in Hamburg. The Beatles played their last Hamburg concert on New Year’s Eve 1962. After that they returned to England and Beatles mania began.

Hamburg’s Alternative Scene
A truly unique exploration of a lesser-known side of Hamburg, this tour focuses on a collection of local and international graffiti and street artists and offers an inside look at Hamburg's bohemian districts and alternative culture. In the trendy quarters of Schanzenviertel and Karolinen Quarter, participants will learn about community protests, the city’s great diversity, urban art movements and get to visit repurposed bunkers and creative hubs. The Alternative Hamburg walking tour runs on a pay-what-you-like basis to ensure that it is accessible to everyone. Tours are 2 hours and start near Sternschanze S-Bahn Station, through the Schanzenviertel to St. Pauli district before ending up back towards the city center near the Gänsemarkt U-Bahn station. Must request English-speaking guide at booking.

A Taste of Hamburg – The St. Georg-Tour
From the historic buildings along the Alster lake to fantastic local shops, Hamburg’s oldest district, St. Georg, has much to offer. What had long ago been a rather sketchy area, today St. Georg has become a magnet for artists, celebrities, high earners and the gay and lesbian community. Eat-The-World's culinary exploration of the district starts at the main railroad station and allows participants to experience the Alster lake and the ‘Lange Reihe’ street with its colorful mile of exciting shops and stylish houses. Participants of the St. Georg Tour will see the birthplace of Hamburg’s early movie star Hans Albers, and have the opportunity to sample delicacies from small shops and restaurants. Stops may include a traditional café, a spice and tea store, a Persian deli, a Lebanese sweet shop or a vegetarian bistro. English guides available upon request.

Reeperbahn Tour: Hamburg’s Naughty Side
Perhaps Hamburg’s most famous street, the Reeperbahn, is the center of the city’s red light district, which in recent years has morphed into a popular live music and mainstream entertainment center. Offering a tantalizing look at Hamburg's nightlife scene, guests of theReeperbahn Tour will explore the St. Pauli quarter, with its provocative Reeperbahn and Herbertstrasse streets, take a peek inside a strip club, see the boxing club where Mike Tyson trained and enjoy a drink at a local bar. The guide will point out popular local hot-spots, famous landmarks and legendary venues, including the Zur Ritze bar. The final stop is a look inside Olivia Wilde’s “Jungs Stripclub”, one of the more amusing venues in the area where men are only allowed in if they dance. Must request English-speaking guide at booking.

Hotrod City Tour
Car enthusiasts can now tour Hamburg in an authentic German Hotrod minicar. These tourswiz guests past Hamburg’s main attractions including the St. Pauli district, the inner and outer Alster lake , the rehabbed HafenCity waterfront and the historic warehouse district. Tours run daily and in summer months an evening tour is available for couples that includes a romantic surprise. The meeting point for this tour is at the Hamburg Landungsbrücken (jetties) and tours run from 10 am until 8:00pm.