WDR Funkhausorchester | Defying Gravity: The Musical World Of Stephen Schwartz

Name: WDR Funkhausorchester | Defying Gravity: The Musical World Of Stephen Schwartz
Start: 2026-10-10T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-10T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Kölner Philharmonie

took place · 10 Oct 2026

Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany

concert Classical date culture

WDR Funkhausorchester | Defying Gravity: The Musical World Of Stephen Schwartz — Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne

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Description was written before the event

The WDR Funkhausorchester performs the music of Stephen Schwartz, creator of the musicals "Wicked" and "Godspell". The concert takes place on October 9, 2026 at 8:00 PM at the Kölner Philharmonie in Cologne.

About: Stephen Schwartz

The composer behind Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin, Schwartz has spent more than fifty years writing some of Broadway's most enduring scores - and his music reached a new global audience through the blockbuster Wicked film duology released in 2024 and 2025.

$758M

Wicked (2024 film) worldwide box office

$540.8M

Wicked: For Good (2025 film) worldwide box office

Academy Awards won

Grammy Awards won

What's new

2026-07
Schwartz personally presented the 2026 Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award to Shawn Hann of Denver School of the Arts at the Educational Theatre Association Conference in New York.
2026-01
Schwartz publicly stated he would not participate in a planned Washington National Opera event at the Kennedy Center in May 2026, citing the changed leadership of the institution.
2025-12
Schwartz was announced as a keynote speaker for the ASCAP Experience 2026 summit, held in February 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

Tracks

Defying Gravityshowstopper from Wicked (2003), one of the most recognisable Broadway songs of the 21st century

For Goodemotional finale duet from Wicked, widely performed at graduations and farewells worldwide

Day by Daysignature song from Godspell (1971), Grammy-winning original cast recording

Corner of the Skyopening number from Pippin (1972), Tony-nominated musical

When You BelieveAcademy Award-winning song from The Prince of Egypt (1998)

About: WDR Funkhausorchester

WDR Funkhausorchester is a German radio orchestra based in Cologne, operating under the public broadcaster WDR. It specialises in popular music, jazz, soul, and film music, and regularly performs at the Kölner Philharmonie. The orchestra is known for collaborating with prominent vocalists and for a broad repertoire spanning swing to contemporary genres.

About the venue: Kölner Philharmonie

The Kölner Philharmonie is one of Germany's premier concert halls, opened in 1986 beneath the Ludwig Museum on the banks of the Rhine. Its distinctive vineyard-style auditorium seats around 2,000 and is celebrated for its outstanding acoustics. The hall hosts the Gürzenich Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra, and a wide range of international classical, jazz, and world-music performances.

Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne Get directions

WDR Funkhausorchester | Defying Gravity: The Musical World Of Stephen Schwartz

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