concert
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concert
A public musical performance in which musicians, a band, or an orchestra play or sing in front of an audience.
Wir gehen am Samstag auf ein Konzert unserer Lieblingsband.
We're going to a concert by our favorite band on Saturday.
concerto
A musical composition written for one or more solo instruments playing together with an orchestra.
Die Pianistin spielte Chopins zweites Klavierkonzert.
The pianist played Chopin's second piano concerto.
The two meanings of 'Konzert' (concert/concerto) are easy to distinguish. If a band, singer, venue, or audience is mentioned, it means the performance (m01). If a composer or instrument is mentioned, it means the composition (m02).
Ich gehe heute Abend auf ein Rock-Konzert.
I'm going to a rock concert tonight.
As a visitor, you can say 'auf ein Konzert gehen' (to go to a concert) or 'ein Konzert besuchen' (to attend a concert). Musicians, on the other hand, 'geben ein Konzert' (give a concert) or 'spielen ein Konzert' (play a concert).
Nächstes Jahr gibt meine Lieblingsband ein Konzert in Berlin.
Next year my favorite band is giving a concert in Berlin.
To express movement to a concert, German uses 'auf' or 'in' with the accusative. To describe being at the concert, the same prepositions are used with the dative.
Wir fahren morgen auf das Konzert nach Hamburg.
We're driving to the concert in Hamburg tomorrow.
In the meaning of 'composition', 'Konzert' (concerto) is often used as the base word in compounds that name the solo instrument. Examples are 'das Klavierkonzert' (piano concerto), 'das Violinkonzert' (violin concerto), or 'das Cellokonzert' (cello concerto).
Das Orchester spielte Beethovens fünftes Klavierkonzert.
The orchestra played Beethoven's fifth piano concerto.
performance / appearance
Both words can refer to music performed in front of an audience. An „Auftritt“ is a single performance by an artist or group, while a „Konzert“ refers to the musical event as a whole. Use „Auftritt“ for the participating artists and „Konzert“ for the event that the audience attends.
Das Konzert beginnt um acht Uhr und findet in der Stadthalle statt.
The concert starts at eight and is being held at the municipal hall.
Der Auftritt der Band beginnt um acht Uhr und dauert eine Stunde.
The band's performance starts at eight and lasts an hour.
