The Elbphilharmonie is not one to take a backseat when the New Year is celebrated with cheerful and lively music. Hamburg’s new concert hall on the river Elbe offers not only a unique space for (musical) festivities, but also the best view of the harbour – and the foyers stay open until midnight. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra welcomes in the New Year with a grand bel canto gala featuring the most sublime arias by Verdi & Co. Heading the cast of singers is Russian star soprano Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti, whose thrilling voice can also be heard regularly at the Hamburg State Opera.Peretyatko celebrated her international breakthrough in 2007 at the »Operalia« song competition, which was established by Plácido Domingo. The competition’s current winner, South African tenor Levy Sekgapane, joins the soprano on stage on this evening.Wielding the baton for the Elbphilharmonie’s resident orchestra is the experienced opera conductor, James Conlon, who has conducted over 250 performances at the New York Met, led the Paris Opera for over 10 years and now presides as Music Director at the Los Angeles Opera since 2006.Please note: The Elbphilharmonie Plaza closes at 15:00 on New Year’s Eve. Ticket holders can access the Plaza two hours before the start of the concert. In addition, the foyers remain open to guests following the concert until after midnight. read less