Music in transition

Concerts with Kirill Petrenko

Kirill Petrenko
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

The end of Romanticism, the beginning of Modernism: Kirill Petrenko will bring to life this exciting phase in the 2023/24 season. Plus music dramas by Strauss, Wagner, Schoenberg, and others.

Great works from the transitional period between the 19th and 20th centuries form the heart of Kirill Petrenko’s concert programmes in the 2023/24 season. Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, which also opens the season and its thematic focus on Heroes, is already representative of this era. Johannes Brahms, Arnold Schoenberg and Karl Amadeus Hartmann are other composers who exemplify this peroid; starting from them, the view expands a hundred years in both directions. The programmes range from Mozart to the present day, the core repertoire of the Classical and Romantic periods is included along with important lesser-known works, and music from very recent times.

Works for the Berliner Philharmoniker

In a concert at Musikfest Berlin, the chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker shows how strongly he feels about new music:  Jonchaies by the composer and architect Iannis Xenakis meets the premiere of a commissioned work by the Hungarian composer Márton Illés and the magnum opus of another Hungarian: Stele by György Kurtág was also written for the Berliner Philharmoniker and premiered by them with Claudio Abbado in 1994. The soloist in Karl Amadeus Hartmann’s Gesangsszene is Christian Gerhaher, a favourite of the audience, orchestra and conductor alike.

In November 2023, Mozart’s Symphony No. 29, Alban Berg’s Three Pieces of Orchestra op. 6 and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony will show how Romanticism grows out of the Classical period and how it finally develops into Modernism. The 150th anniversary of Arnold Schoenberg’s birth brings a rarely heard work to the Philharmonie: Die Jakobsleiter. Conceived first as a symphony movement, then as an oratorio and finally as an opera, the biblical drama remained unfinished and yet is one of Schoenberg’s most haunting creations.

First collaboration with Lisa Batiashvili

Even beyond that, there is plenty of 20th century music to discover in Kirill Petrenko’s concerts. For Karol Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto, Artist in Residence Lisa Batiashvili has been invited as the soloist; she and the Philharmoniker’s chief conductor will perform together for the first time. In another first, the Berliner Philharmoniker will also perform Henri Dutilleux’s First Symphony. Plus, there is Béla Bartók’s music for the ballet The Wooden Prince, which unfolds its dramatic potential even without dance. Kirill Petrenko will also introduce young audiences to this work at a family concert.

Generally speaking, Kirill Petrenko has a preference for music that expresses itself in sound, that can tell a story. For example, the tone poem Má vlast, Bedřich Smetana’s declaration of love for his Czech homeland. Its legends, myths and landscapes are portrayed in six movements, of which The Moldau is the most famous. Or Richard Strauss’ Symphonia domestica: “The symphony”, the composer thought, “should give a musical picture of married life” – and became much more than that: the combination of once incompatible things, of “absolute music” and programme music.

Elektra and The Valkyrie

The ancient Greek tragedy of Elektra is planned as a major concert opera performance. Richard Strauss’ work about the Atrides’ daughter’s revenge on her adulterous mother, who became her husband’s murderer with her lover, requires powerful, virtuosic voices. The top-class vocal cast for these performances includes soloists such as Nina Stemme, Elza van den Heever, Michaela Schuster and Johan Reuter.

The New Year’s Eve concerts also promise musical drama: in addition to the Tannhäuser Overture, they include the first act of Richard Wagner’s The Valkyrie. Jonas Kaufmann as Siegmund and Lise Davidsen as Sieglinde will present the meeting and reunion of the Wälsungen twins with Georg Zeppenfeld as Hunding. Finally, Kirill Petrenko gives the Waldbühne concert a French accent. For this he has chosen Maurice Ravel’s Bolero and his music from the ballet Daphnis et Chloé. As the piano soloist in Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini op. 43, Yuja Wang’s keyboard fireworks will contribute to a splendid end to the season.

Concerts with the chief conductor

Friday,

25 Aug 2023,
19:00

Main Auditorium

Fri 25 Aug 2023, 19:00
Main Auditorium

Season opening concert in cooperation with Deutsche Bank

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by Max Reger and Richard Strauss

Read more Watch online Live in cinemas

Thursday,

14 Sep 2023,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: C – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu 14 Sep 2023, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Musikfest Berlin

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Christian Gerhaher baritone

Works by Iannis Xenakis, Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Márton Illés and György Kurtág

Read more

Friday,

15 Sep 2023,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: M – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Fri 15 Sep 2023, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Musikfest Berlin

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Christian Gerhaher baritone

Works by Iannis Xenakis, Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Márton Illés and György Kurtág

Read more

Saturday,

16 Sep 2023,
19:00

Main Auditorium

Series: D – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Sat 16 Sep 2023, 19:00
Main Auditorium

Musikfest Berlin

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Christian Gerhaher baritone

Works by Iannis Xenakis, Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Márton Illés and György Kurtág

Read more Watch online

Friday,

29 Dec 2023,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Fri 29 Dec 2023, 20:00
Main Auditorium

New Year’s Eve Concert

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Vida Miknevičiūtė soprano (Sieglinde)

Jonas Kaufmann tenor

Georg Zeppenfeld bass

Works by Richard Wagner

Read more

Saturday,

30 Dec 2023,
19:00

Main Auditorium

Sat 30 Dec 2023, 19:00
Main Auditorium

New Year’s Eve Concert

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Vida Miknevičiūtė soprano (Sieglinde)

Jonas Kaufmann tenor

Georg Zeppenfeld bass

Works by Richard Wagner

Read more

Sunday,

31 Dec 2023,
17:30

Main Auditorium

Sun 31 Dec 2023, 17:30
Main Auditorium

New Year’s Eve Concert

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Vida Miknevičiūtė soprano (Sieglinde)

Jonas Kaufmann tenor

Georg Zeppenfeld bass

Works by Richard Wagner

Read more Watch online Live in cinemas

Thursday,

11 Jan 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: G – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu 11 Jan 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by Henri Dutilleux and Béla Bartók

Read more

Friday,

12 Jan 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: M – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Fri 12 Jan 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by Henri Dutilleux and Béla Bartók

Read more

Saturday,

13 Jan 2024,
19:00

Main Auditorium

Series: N – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Sat 13 Jan 2024, 19:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by Henri Dutilleux and Béla Bartók

Read more Watch online

Thursday,

25 Jan 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: B – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu 25 Jan 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Wolfgang Koch baritone

Daniel Behle tenor

Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke tenor

Johannes Martin Kränzle baritone

Gyula Orendt baritone

Nicola Beller Carbone soprano

Liv Redpath soprano

Jasmin Delfs soprano

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Works by Arnold Schoenberg

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Friday,

26 Jan 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: C – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Fri 26 Jan 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Wolfgang Koch baritone

Daniel Behle tenor

Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke tenor

Johannes Martin Kränzle baritone

Gyula Orendt baritone

Nicola Beller Carbone soprano

Liv Redpath soprano

Jasmin Delfs soprano

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Works by Arnold Schoenberg

Read more

Saturday,

27 Jan 2024,
19:00

Main Auditorium

Series: E – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Sat 27 Jan 2024, 19:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Wolfgang Koch baritone

Daniel Behle tenor

Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke tenor

Johannes Martin Kränzle baritone

Gyula Orendt baritone

Nicola Beller Carbone soprano

Liv Redpath soprano

Jasmin Delfs soprano

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Works by Arnold Schoenberg

Read more Watch online

Wednesday,

14 Feb 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: H – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker, W – Artist in Residence

Wed 14 Feb 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Lisa Batiashvili violin

Works by Franz Liszt, Karol Szymanowski and Richard Strauss

Read more

Thursday,

15 Feb 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: L – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu 15 Feb 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Lisa Batiashvili violin

Works by Franz Liszt, Karol Szymanowski and Richard Strauss

Read more

Friday,

16 Feb 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: K – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Fri 16 Feb 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Lisa Batiashvili violin

Works by Franz Liszt, Karol Szymanowski and Richard Strauss

Read more Watch online

Thursday,

04 Apr 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: A – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu 04 Apr 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Nina Stemme soprano (Elektra)

Elza van den Heever soprano (Chrysothemis)

Michaela Schuster mezzo-soprano (Klytämnestra)

Johan Reuter bass-baritone (Orest)

Prague Philharmonic Choir

Richard Strauss Elektra (Concert Performance)

Read more

Sunday,

07 Apr 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: Sonderkonzert – Extra Concert

Sun 07 Apr 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Nina Stemme soprano (Elektra)

Elza van den Heever soprano (Chrysothemis)

Michaela Schuster mezzo-soprano (Klytämnestra)

Johan Reuter bass-baritone (Orest)

Prague Philharmonic Choir

Richard Strauss Elektra (Concert Performance)

Read more Watch online

Wednesday,

08 May 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: H – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Wed 08 May 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Bedřich Smetana Má vlast (My Homeland)

Read more

Thursday,

09 May 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: G – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu 09 May 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Bedřich Smetana Má vlast (My Homeland)

Read more

Friday,

10 May 2024,
20:00

Main Auditorium

Series: I – Concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker

Fri 10 May 2024, 20:00
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Bedřich Smetana Má vlast (My Homeland)

Read more Watch online

Friday,

17 May 2024,
20:00

Chamber Music Hall

Karajan-Akademie

Karajan Academy | Series: KA – Karajan Academy

Fri 17 May 2024, 20:00
Chamber Music Hall

Karajan-Akademie

Karajan-Akademie der Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Jörg Widmann

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Saturday,

22 Jun 2024,
20:15

Waldbühne Berlin

Sat 22 Jun 2024, 20:15
Waldbühne Berlin

End-of-season concert

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko conductor

Yuja Wang piano

Works by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Maurice Ravel

Read more Watch online