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26 April 2019

Berlin in Lights

by Christoph Gaiser

If New York is the city that never sleeps, Berlin is the city where you can hear music at any time of the day or night: whether in recording studios during the daytime, the opera houses and concert halls in the evenings, or at its many nightclubs. With the Berlin Philharmonic, the city calls one of the world’s most virtuoso and legendary orchestras its own. In May 2020 the Berlin Philharmonic makes a guest apperance at the Philharmonie Luxembourg under its new chief conductor Kirill Petrenko.

And since this orchestra, more than any other, may be described as a community of outstanding soloists, it makes sense to turn the 2019/20 season into a showcase for the numerous ensembles that have formed within the ranks of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Whether early music with Concerto Melante, contemporary sounds with the Scharoun Ensemble, extravagant sounds from the 12 Cellists, festive ones from the orchestra’s own brass ensemble or entertaining crossover from the Vienna-Berlin troupe Philharmonix – the variety is almost endless and the quality invariably outstanding.

And then there is Max Raabe and his Palast Orchester, a kind of counterpoint to the «Berlin Phil». Thus we pay homage to the musical centre of Berlin, and the icing on the cake is a screening of Fritz Lang’s silent film Metropolis as part of the series «Ciné-Concerts», a movie which would be unthinkable without the city.

Concerts

  • 08.10.2019 20:00

    Nils Frahm

    Has already taken place

    «The German pianist is an analogue keyboard ninja, an acoustics nerd, and the poster boy for a classical crossover genre indebted to jazz, ambient electronic music and much time spent clubbing.» (The Guardian)

    Kulturpass, bienvenue!

  • 14.10.2019 20:00

    Ospital & Delepelaire – organ & cello

    Has already taken place

    Despite still being in his twenties, Thomas Ospital commands two of the most important organs in Paris: one at St. Eustache and the other at the new concert hall of Radio France. Together with Bruno Delepelaire, the Berlin Philharmonic’s principal cellist, he has conceived a duo programme full of (late-) romantic tenderness and emotion.

    Kulturpass, bienvenue!

  • 17.11.2019 19:00

    Max Raabe & Palast Orchester

    Has already taken place

    «It’s the sound of romance. Horns sing with reeds and strings, seeming to set the very air dancing to the rhythms of waltzes, fox trots and pasodobles. A man, dressed impeccably in tie and tails, steps up to a mike and, in a focused, rounded falsetto, completes the close, perfect harmony.» (Los Angeles Times)

  • 16.12.2019 20:00

    Philharmonix

    Has already taken place

    «Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley and cellist Stephan Koncz, have founded a club with a few friends from Vienna – most of them members of the Vienna Philharmonic. This is entertainment at the highest imaginable level.» (Der Tagesspiegel)

  • 17.12.2019 20:00

    Concerto Melante

    Has already taken place

    Concerto Melante, comprising members of the Berlin Philharmonic, presents instrumental music of the German baroque era – on original instruments and in keeping with historically informed performance practice.

  • 13.01.2020 20:00

    Arvid Gast & Berlin Philharmonic Brass

    Has already taken place

    Within the Berlin Philharmonic lies a rich and glittering treasure of chamber music ensembles of varying musical predilections. Among them is Berlin Philharmonic Brass, uniting the brass musicians of this world-class orchestra, which will assemble on January 13 on the stage of the Grand Auditorium. On this occasion the twelve instrumentalists will be joined by the organist of Lübeck’s Jakobi Church, Arvid Gast, renowned from many years of playing as a duo with the solo trumpeter of the DSO Berlin and thus well-versed in the treatment of brass players. The programme offers a string of glittering pearls of the repertoire, from Bach to Shostakovich and Puccini, lending the concert evening a festive atmosphere. Prior to the concert, at 7:30 pm the evening’s organist will answer questions about the project.

    Kulturpass, bienvenue!

  • 24.02.2020 20:00

    Daishin Kashimoto / Amihai Grosz / Julian Steckel / Éric Le Sage

    Has already taken place

    According to musicologists Jean and Brigitte Massin, the piano quartet is the «merging of a quartet with a concerto». Its development is evidence of the emancipation of keyboard instruments during the course of the 18th century. Whereas Mozart left two masterpieces of this genre to the world, of which the second, KV 493, will be heard during this concert, Richard Strauss created only one piano quartet for a competition, which quickly became popular far beyond its initial purpose, before Dvořák paid this genre a tribute no less splendid. On February 24 these milestones will be performed by four exceptional musicians – among them the Berlin Philharmonic’s concertmaster Daishin Kashimoto and its principal violist Amihai Grosz.

  • 12.03.2020 20:00

    Scharoun Ensemble

    Cancelled!

    En raison de l’évolution actuelle autour du coronavirus et compte tenu des directives du Ministère de la Santé, nous vous informons que tous les concerts à la Philharmonie à partir d’aujourd’hui jeudi 12.03. jusqu’au dimanche 15.03. inclus doivent être annulés.

    Nous contacterons personnellement tous les clients concernés pour des informations détaillées sur les concerts en question et pour des remboursements. La procédure de dédommagement nécessitant un certain délai, nous vous remercions par avance de votre patience.

    - 12.03.2020 Scharoun Ensemble
    - 13.03.2020 Mutter / Buniatishvili / Ferrández / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Ticciati
    - 13./14.03.2020 «Viva España!» (Schulvorstellung / Familles)
    - 14.03.2020 Chick Corea Trilogy
    - 14./15.03.2020 Loopino
    - 15.03.2020 The Gurdjieff Ensemble

    Concernant les concerts des semaines à venir, nous vous tiendrons bien entendu au courant de la situation. Nous comptons sur votre compréhension et vous remercions de votre soutien.

  • 15.05.2020 20:00

    Berliner Philharmoniker / Kirill Petrenko

    Cancelled!

    NOTE:Due to the current situation concerning COVID-19, we have cancelled all events up to the end of the current season 2019/20. This concerns concerts, workshops, guided tours and all further events.

    We will contact all concerned clients with information regarding the respective concert and refunds. Reimbursement proceedings are expected to require a certain amount of time, therefore we would kindly like to ask for your patience and understanding.

    We will of course keep you informed in case the situation might lead to further changes regarding concerts beyond the given date. We appreciate your understanding, thank you for your support and hope to see you again soon at the Philharmonie!

    The Philharmonie team

  • 16.05.2020 20:00

    Die 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker

    Cancelled!

    NOTE:Due to the current situation concerning COVID-19, we have cancelled all events up to the end of the current season 2019/20. This concerns concerts, workshops, guided tours and all further events.

    We will contact all concerned clients with information regarding the respective concert and refunds. Reimbursement proceedings are expected to require a certain amount of time, therefore we would kindly like to ask for your patience and understanding.

    We will of course keep you informed in case the situation might lead to further changes regarding concerts beyond the given date. We appreciate your understanding, thank you for your support and hope to see you again soon at the Philharmonie!

    The Philharmonie team

  • 20.05.2020 20:00

    Ciné-concert «Metropolis»

    Cancelled!

    NOTE:Due to the current situation concerning COVID-19, we have cancelled all events up to the end of the current season 2019/20. This concerns concerts, workshops, guided tours and all further events.

    We will contact all concerned clients with information regarding the respective concert and refunds. Reimbursement proceedings are expected to require a certain amount of time, therefore we would kindly like to ask for your patience and understanding.

    We will of course keep you informed in case the situation might lead to further changes regarding concerts beyond the given date. We appreciate your understanding, thank you for your support and hope to see you again soon at the Philharmonie!

    The Philharmonie team

    Coproduction Philharmonie Luxembourg et Cinémathèque de la Ville de Luxembourg