When does the concert start and is there an introduction?

The concert introduction starts at 6:30 PM in the upper festival hall foyer, concert begins at 7:30 PM in the festival hall of Freiheitshalle Hof.

How long does the concert last?

Based on the given work durations, a total duration of about two hours including intermission is realistic.

How much does a ticket cost?

Tickets for symphony concerts start according to the ticket service at 31 Euros; other price categories are 37 and 42 Euros.

Are there discounts available?

Yes, students and those up to 26 years old receive a 50 percent discount according to the organizer.

Where does the concert take place?

In the festival hall of Freiheitshalle Hof, Kulmbacher Str. 4, 95030 Hof.

How do I get there and where can I park?

The Freiheitshalle is centrally located; numerous parking spaces are available at the adjacent festival grounds. Access via A9, A93, and A72 is possible.

Hofer Symphoniker & Albrecht Mayer in Hof

Name: 8th Symphony Concert of the Hofer Symphoniker – Symphonie fantastique
Start: 2026-04-17 19:30:00
End: 2026-04-17 19:30:00
Location: Freiheitshalle Hof

Symphonie fantastique in Hof: An Evening of Great Emotions

The Hofer Symphoniker invite you on Friday, April 17, 2026, to the festival hall of Freiheitshalle. Star oboist and conductor Albrecht Mayer will guide you through a contrasting program featuring Schubert, Wolf‑Ferrari, and Berlioz – a concert experience that bundles acoustics, light, and emotion in an intense live atmosphere.

Sound Colors That Breathe: Schubert's Unfinished

To start, Albrecht Mayer conducts Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 7 in B minor D 759. The Unfinished captivates with orchestral transparency, finely balanced orchestration, and an audience mood that hovers between melancholy and hope. The string lines shine, woodwinds engage in dialogue, and the dynamics remain organic and breathing.

Mediterranean Elegance: Wolf‑Ferrari's Idillio‑Concertino

At the center of the evening is Ermanno Wolf‑Ferrari's Idillio‑Concertino in A major op. 15. Albrecht Mayer takes on the solo part on the oboe while simultaneously conducting the orchestra. Over elegant phrases lies a touch of film music – rhythmic finesse, bright harmonies, and a chamber music-like synchrony between soloist and tutti create glowing sound images.

Pure Dramatics: Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique

For the finale, Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique op. 14 ignites the grand romantic gesture: programmatic music with scenic imagination, captivating stage performance from the brass section, and a brilliant percussion sound. The famous Dream March and the Witches' Sabbath visions ignite in the hall – dramatically pointed until the last chord.

Context and Expertise

Since the 1990s, Albrecht Mayer has shaped the Berlin Philharmonic as a solo oboist, has been awarded the ECHO Klassik multiple times, and is internationally sought-after as a soloist and conductor. The Hofer Symphoniker, a cultural beacon of Upper Franconia, present the work trio as a curated panorama of Romanticism with a clear dramatic line.

Concert Introduction

At 6:30 PM, a compact introduction will start in the upper festival hall foyer – ideal for gaining insights into the form, motifs, and historical reception of the works.

Conclusion

Hof's Freiheitshalle becomes a resonance space for great feelings: lyrical Schubert lines, Mediterranean oboe colors, and Berlioz’s orchestral vision. Secure your tickets now and experience the Symphonie fantastique live – close to the sound, close to the emotion.