Grobschnitt with Philharmonic Orchestra in Hagen on June 15, 2012
 

We just returned from Grobschnitt's concert "Rockpommels Land" together with the Philharmonic Orchestra Hagen in the Theater Hagen. This theater is now 100 years old. This concert formed part of the birthday celebrations of the theater, as Grobschnitt is considered a band from the city of Hagen. The theater has a capacity of aprox 800 ppl, although It looks smaller.

The Philharmonic Orchestra of Hagen was complete on stage, approximately 50 musicians.

The concert was not Grobschnitt's music with classical instruments (like the PG gig New Blood). It was Grobschnitt's music (all electric guitars, drums, keyboards etc etc) together with the Philharmonic Orchestra

It begun classic, the orchestra played Strauss' "Blue Danube" complete. Very nice. Then the band (the "small band" as Willy Wildschwein from Grobschnitt said) entered the stage and begun to play, always together with the orchestra. In the first part of the concert they played a couple of known pieces, like Synfonie, Merry go round (beautiful), Film im Kopf etc. with a tendency to acoustic (more use of acoustic guitars) We, the audience were captured more and more by the enhanced sound of the known tunes with the orchestra. If there were at the beginning some (very few) "funny" guys , they were not heard any more during the concert....

After a 25 min break it was time for Rockpommels Land. After an overture made by the orchestra, a, actor emerged from the stage telling us the story of Rockpommels Land and Ernie's journey (great). Then the small bad came and the MAGIC began. If you know the album, you just have to imagine that in addition to the already orchestral sound of Grobschnitt an orchestra is just underlining and potentiating this. In some calm, peaceful moments of this masterpiece you could hear a needle fall in this full theater, so people were caught by the music. If you can imagine this, then think this plus the live event of 60+ musicians on a stage producing what you hear...I think I will never forget these nearly 85 min of Rockpommels Land....

Well, the encore was a wonderful "The excursion of Father Smith" rounding up the evening.

This was the 2nd concert out of 4 they will do "philharmonic" Doris and I were 2 out of 3200 ppl who were able to attend, and we are grateful for this!