Raphaela Gromes with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Edward Gardner – Germany Tour 2025

Following the short-notice cancellation by Sheku Kanneh-Mason due to an injury to his left hand, Raphaela Gromes stepped in spontaneously as soloist for the concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Thanks to her immediate availability, the programme was able to proceed as originally planned, without any changes.

In the concerts on 2 December at the Alte Oper Frankfurt, 5 December at the Kölner Philharmonie, and 7 December 2025 at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Raphaela Gromes appeared in Camille Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1 as an attentive and finely attuned musical partner to the orchestra. The collaboration with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Edward Gardner was marked by a clear musical dialogue and a balanced overall sound. Already in the opening work by Edward Elgar, the orchestra was able to unfold its rich and colourful sound world under Gardner’s baton.

A special moment of the evenings was shaped by Raphaela Gromes together with the orchestra’s cellists in the encore: Tropar by Hanna Havrylets. This short, intense work gave the concerts a calm and focused conclusion.