Haberstock's Orchestra Junges Philharmonisches Orchester München

"Maximilian Haberstock is certainly one of the most exciting rising stars in the conducting sky. Recently, the 19-year-old gave a brilliant debut with his Young Philharmonic Orchestra Munich."

"That a young conductor is again moving away from original sound and score positivism toward romanticizing German sound is extremely refreshing. The result is not dusty. Rather, Haberstock shows the courage to interpret that many have unfortunately lost in the increasingly academicized music-making. The future does not lie in turning away from the old, but in preserving and continuing our tradition."

Willi Patzelt, Klassik begeistert

"One wonders incredulously: how could such a young man succeed in founding such an outstanding orchestra that exceeds all expectations?"

Dr. Lorenz Kerscher, Klassik begeistert

Maximilian Haberstock is the founder of the "Young Philharmonic Orchestra Munich" composed of 52 outstanding young musicians from over 20 nations.

The seeds for this orchestra was planted in 2019, when Haberstock created the "Arcis Chamber Orchestra". He conducted this ensemble in two benefit concerts - 2019 at Schloss Nymphenburg and 2020 at Utopia in Munich - with all proceeds going to Zeltschule e.V. (“Tent School”) for the education of 80 refugee children. 

The expansion of this ensemble into a full-blown philharmonic orchestra - from 24 to 52 musicians - was enabled in 2023 with exceptional players joining from the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra as well as from Mahler Student Festival Orchestra.

Their first concert which took place within the Stars & Rising Stars Festival in May 2023 under Haberstock's direction - with the acclaimed cellist Alban Gerhardt - was a huge success with standing ovations.

The second concert featuring an all-Brams program in May 2024 – this time with 65 orchestra musicians and with the world-renowned cellist Daniel Müller-Schott – received huge public jubilation and great critical acclaim.

The 600-seat Carl Orff Hall was filled with people who wanted to experience a pure Brahms program. “A nineteen-year-old dares to perform the most demanding symphonic music with a youth orchestra?”

"But after just a few bars it becomes clear that this concert evening will offer a beautifully balanced listening experience!"

"… and the orchestral sound is added with the utmost precision and impresses with clarity and perfect balance between the various instrumental groups. The main movement of the Brahms Double Concerto with its powerful developments is just as gripping as the melodious second movement and the spiritual rondo finale."

"For the second time, Haberstock was able to work intensively with hand-picked elite musicians on a demanding concert program which gave the audience immense pleasure in a packed hall."

"After the interval, the slim young man in his black tailcoat stands upright on the podium as he conducts Brahms' complex 1st Symphony from memory."

"He knows exactly how he wants it, creates an ideal balance of sound between the orchestra's instrumental groups, as he did before the interval, and varies the tempo as required by the dramaturgy of the work."

"The result is a clear, lively and cohesive interpretation with which he delights his listeners. We will be hearing a lot more from him, at least that's what I expect!"

FULL CONCERT REVIEW AND PROFILE

"With star cellist Alban Gerhardt and the two "rising stars" Tassilo Probst and Naz irem Türkmen, Haberstock and his new orchestra made a splendid debut."

"Already in the beginning of Beethoven's Coriolan Overture, one hears that the young conductor focuses less on drama through abruptly torn-off tutti beats, but rather on dark existentialism."

"Haberstock focuses on depth of sound rather than superficial effects."

[In Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony] Haberstock succeeds in portraying human despair oscillating between melancholy and hopelessness."

"The fact that this orchestra had just one week of joint rehearsal behind it was not to be heard. Wonderfully played together, Mendelssohn's "Scottish" became a success; with the final chord, standing ovations and applause broke out."

FULL CONCERT REVIEW

INTERVIEW WITH MAXIMILIAN HABERSTOCK