AUF TAKT! THE PODCAST CONCERT

In conversation, musicologist Vio Musica and conductor Gregor Böttcher explore the evening’s programme: what inspired the composers, why their music sounds the way it does, and what it still has to say to us across the centuries.

The orchestra picks up the thread time and again, performing individual passages live. The work is then performed in its entirety.

‘Auf Takt!’ is a programme by klassix, an initiative that makes classical music accessible through new formats and opens up new avenues into its world. The programme is also available as a standalone podcast – wherever podcasts can be found – and features many other topics relating to classical music.

Vio Musica is a musicologist, flautist and music educator. After studying the flute in Frankfurt am Main and completing a Master’s degree in musicology at Goethe University, she gained her first experience as a presenter at Klassik Radio. Today, she brings classical music to life on stage, in digital media and on social media – including for ARD Klassik. She combines academic expertise with her own musical practice and an accessible, everyday style of language, thereby building bridges between the concert hall and everyday life.

Gregor Böttcher is a conductor and the founder of kassix, which develops new ways of engaging with classical music. He completed his studies in orchestral conducting in 2026 at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Since 2018, he has appeared on international stages and has conducted, amongst others, the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine in Kyiv, the Kaunas City Orchestra and the Karaganda Symphony Orchestra. As principal guest conductor of the Dnipro Philharmonic Society, he gave concerts for peace in Ukraine in 2024. This journey reflects his belief that classical music can exert an active influence on society.

The Berlin Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is a true breeding ground for the next generation of professional musicians destined for top orchestras and solo careers. The young musicians are supported through first-class musical training and have the opportunity to nurture and develop their talent. The orchestra takes pride in presenting the great works of the orchestral repertoire in its programme, such as D. Shostakovich’s 9th Symphony and J. Sibelius’s Violin Concerto.

The musicians’ passion and skill make every concert an unforgettable experience for the audience.