Duo Graceland + Philharmonie Leipzig

The evening is themed "Classic meets Folkrock" - brought to life by a duo that comes remarkably close to the originals, and an orchestra that has performed in New York, Chicago, Moscow, Mumbai and Beijing. Audiences can expect an emotionally charged evening, a tribute to the 1960s and 70s, and songs everyone knows by heart. Even Johann Sebastian Bach gets a look-in - Paul Simon drew inspiration from him.

The programme takes its cue from the legendary 1981 Central Park concert in New York, which drew half a million people. The ensemble aims to recreate the atmosphere of that night, when hundreds of thousands of lighters flickered in the dark during "The Sound of Silence".

Duo Graceland, from Bretten, brings the music of the great American songwriters back to life. Thomas Wacker, who spent many years in Pforzheim, brings a distinctive touch to the material with his virtuoso guitar playing and takes on the vocal role of Paul Simon. Thorsten Gary sings Art Garfunkel's part and underpins his partner's guitar arrangements with rhythm guitar. They see themselves not as imitations of the world-famous duo, but as artists who bring their own voice to Simon & Garfunkel's songs.

What started as coincidence became a deliberate project - that is how the Leipzig Philharmonic came to join forces with Graceland. The result has won over musicians and organisers alike. Fifty performers on stage present Simon & Garfunkel's music in a way Germany has not seen before.

It was clear from the outset that Simon & Garfunkel's music is ideally suited to bridging classical and folk rock. The very first rehearsals in Leipzig confirmed how naturally the combination works - a crossover concert with a full symphony orchestra.