New Year's concert: Les Vents Français with Eric Le Sage (FR) and Emmanuel Pahud (CH)

French winds sweep over Denmark when the wind ensemble Les Vents Français with pianist Éric le Sage visits the Diamond and rings in the New Year.

The art of the flute was celebrated when the ensemble's flutist received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize in 2024. Chairman Esben Tange's motivation was: Courage, playfulness and professionalism form a synthesis with Emmanuel Pahud. With his ability to both work as a superb soloist and to be part of a collective – as a passionate chamber musician and as solo flutist in the Berlin Philharmonic – he is a complete musician and a master in his field. And with a playing style where the classical ideals of beauty, elegance and virtuosity are combined with an enormous appetite for creating and playing new works with a modern edge, Emmanuel Pahud pushes the boundaries of the art of the possible in the world of wind instruments. To the delight of the audience and inspiration for younger generations of musicians.

The New Year is ringed in with delightful music by three French composers and the Italian Verdi. Verdi's quintet is arranged by Israeli bassoonist Mordechai Rechtman (1926-2023).

We'll give you a glass of New Year's bubbles during the intermission!