Nümbrecht experienced a wonderful summer night classical evening in the castle!

Nümbrecht experienced a wonderful summer night classical evening in the castle!

On Sunday evening, July 6, 2025, an open-air concert by the Junge Philharmonie Köln took place in the Homburg Castle Museum and Forum. Under the direction of Volker Hartung, around 500 listeners gathered to enjoy a varied program. The event had a festive atmosphere, despite the unsettled weather, which somewhat dampened the summer mood.

The concert began with George Frideric Handel's famous overture from “Salomon” and the iconic piece “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”. The selection of past eras continued with the performance of Handel's “Fireworks Music”, which was first performed in London in 1749.

Romantic program

A highlight of the performance was the music by Henry Purcell, which belongs to Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream”. After the break, the audience experienced the magical Serenade in E minor by Edward Elgar from 1892. These appealing performances were rounded off by several encores. These included “Gypsy Songs” by Pablo de Sarasate, which was framed by flute solo by Alexandra Ruzikowa, as well as the meditation from Jules Massenet’s “Thaïs”, which was performed by solo violinist Gregori Ambassonam.

Further musical delicacies such as “Greensleeves” and the tango “Por una cabeza” rounded off the evening. Hartung was satisfied with the organization and sound technology of the event, but expressed the wish for more youthful presence in the audience.

Diverse concert experiences

The open-air concert was the highlight of an eventful series of events in Nümbrecht. The winning groups from the district band content performed on Saturday, including the bands Doppel M, Only Once and Latin Greek. Previously, on Friday, the Bläck Fööss delighted more than 500 guests with their well-known hits such as “wenn de sonn schingk” and “du bes die Stadt”. The band didn't miss a beat and offered their audience several encores before ending the evening with “Bye Bye, My Love”.

The Junge Philharmonie Cologne, which has existed for 50 years, is known for its cheerful and contemplative programs. The concert was a joint project of several organizations, including the Cultural Office of the Oberbergischer Kreis, the Förderverein Schloss Homburg e.V., the municipality of Nümbrecht and the Förderkreis Kultur in Nümbrecht e.V. The guests' physical well-being was also ensured by a gastronomic offer from Kai's Restaurant, which was available before, after and during the break of the concert.

Overall, the event was a successful evening that brought together numerous music lovers and celebrated the cultural diversity of the region. For further information on future events of the Junge Philharmonie Köln, see the website of the Junge Philharmonie Köln.

Read more about this topic in the article on Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.