Hamburg was a city of music. And Hamburg is a city of music. Hamburg has the Elbphilharmonie. The fantastic building on the banks of the river offers many different views of freedom—freedom of art, freedom of trade, freedom of the senses. Joachim Mischke takes us on an exhilarating journey through the past and present of a truly historic building. Unique photographs by Michael Zapf document the extraordinary building’s path from idea to reality. Hamburg has built a new landmark. Already unmistakable on the city skyline, its silhouette is also a symbol of Germany as a nation of culture. A symphony of beauty, an ode to the future.