The annual New Year’s Eve Concert is one of the highlights in the calendar of every classical music fan in Berlin and beyond. On New Year‘s Eve, the Berliner Philharmoniker invite an exceptional soloist for a festive gala. Together, the musicians bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. The 2008 concert was conducted by Simon Rattle and featured Pauline Malefane (soprano), Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone). On the programme: George Gershwin: Cuban Overture, Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings, op. 11 , Aaron Copland: Old American Songs, John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine, George Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (Excerpts), George Gershwin: An American in Paris, Jerome Kern: Show Boat (Ol' Man River).