The six cities of the 2025 Asia tour

Author: Lino Knocke, Mascha Vannier

Published on: 04.11.2025

This tour takes the Berliner Philharmoniker to Seoul, Taipei, Shanghai, Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kawasaki. A brief introduction to each of the six cities.

7–9 November 2025: Seoul

Since its founding in 1394, Seoul has been the political and cultural heart of Korea. Today, this metropolis of more than 9.6 million people is a place where centuries-old palaces meet futuristic skyscrapers. It is a blend of past and future that can also serve as musical inspiration. On their Asia tour, the Berliner Philharmoniker return to the Seoul Arts Center. This expansive cultural complex includes a concert hall, opera house, chamber music hall, art museum and calligraphy hall. The Concert Hall, modernised in 2005, seats 2,505 guests across three tiers in a horseshoe layout and is praised for its outstanding acoustics by both artists and audiences.

The orchestra last performed in Seoul in 2023, with tickets selling out within seconds. From 7 to 9 November 2025, they will give three more concerts at this remarkable venue. Joining them is pianist Sunwook Kim, a native of Seoul, who appears as soloist in Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor.

A full orchestra stands on stage, holding their instruments and facing the audience in a large concert hall with wooden walls. The audience is seated in the background. — Concert in Seoul conducted by Kirill Petrenko, 2023. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Sunwook Kim with short dark hair and a dark blue denim shirt looks into the camera with a subtle smile. The background is a light, neutral colour. — Soloist Sunwook Kim | Picture: Marco Borggreve

A busy street with cars, buses, and motorcycles in front of the Seoul Arts Center, a large modern building with a domed roof, surrounded by trees and banners, in Seoul, South Korea. — Seoul Arts Center | Picture: Piotrus, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

A busy city street at night filled with heavy traffic and illuminated buildings. Colorful lights and large digital billboards reflect off the wet roads, creating a vibrant urban scene. — Cityscape of Seoul | Picture: Monika Ritterhaus

11–13 November 2025: Taipei

In Taipei, traditional teahouses and Daoist temples sit side by side with high-tech innovation and avant-garde design. The city is known for its vibrant temple culture, diverse arts scene, street food and lively night markets. The Berliner Philharmoniker perform in the National Concert Hall, part of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial complex, one of the city's most important cultural landmarks. Opened in 1987, the hall seats around 2,000 guests and is admired for its elegant architecture, with sweeping golden roof tiles and bright red columns.

Since 2005, the orchestra has visited Taipei four times, most recently in 2018 under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. Each time, the concerts were shared with a huge and enthusiastic audience through open-air broadcasts.

A cityscape view of Taipei with the tall, green Taipei 101 tower prominently rising above surrounding skyscrapers, framed by lush greenery and a clear, blue sky. — Skyline of Taipei

A large traditional Chinese building with ornate, illuminated roofs and red columns stands brightly lit at night, with a spacious stone plaza and people gathered near the entrance. — Taipei National Concert Hall. | Picture: Lin Jeff

A wide plaza with decorative gardens, people walking, and two large traditional Chinese buildings with orange roofs on each side, facing a grand archway under a blue sky. — Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Complex.

A person with white hair holds a large bouquet of flowers in front of a cheering, densely packed crowd, while several photographers take pictures from the side. — With Simon Rattle in Taipei, 2005 | Picture: Andreas Knapp

15–16 November 2025: Shanghai

From a small fishing village, Shanghai grew into one of the world’s great metropolises during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, with a population of over 24 million, it is a global hub for finance, trade, and culture. The Berliner Philharmoniker perform at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center (SHOAC). Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the building opened in 2005. Viewed from above, the five interconnected hemispherical pavilions – concert hall, opera house, chamber music hall, exhibition space and theatre – resemble the blossom of a butterfly orchid. At the heart of the SHOAC is the concert hall, with 1,953 seats. Warm wood panelling and advanced acoustic technology create a sound that is both intimate and powerful.

The Berliner Philharmoniker first performed at the SHOAC in 2005 with Sir Simon Rattle. Their most recent appearance in the city was in June 2024, under the direction of Kirill Petrenko, at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

The Berliner Philharmoniker perform on stage in a large concert hall with a seated audience. The stage background is gold with a circular emblem, and screens display text on either side of the stage. — The Berliner Philharmoniker in Shanghai, 2023. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Aerial view of a modern building with a clover-shaped white roof, surrounded by trees, roads, and nearby urban structures. — The Shanghai Oriental Art Center. | Picture: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

A modern concert hall with a grand piano on stage, purple lighting, empty tiered seating, and a few people seated in the foreground, awaiting a performance. — The SHOAC Concert Hall. | Picture: N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bunt beleuchtete Boote treiben nachts auf einem Fluss vor der Skyline Shanghais mit ihren hohen Wolkenkratzern, die von hellen Schildern und elektronischen Werbetafeln beleuchtet werden. — Shanghai Skyline | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

19–23 November 2025: Tokyo

With over 14 million residents, Tokyo is a city that never sleeps. Centuries-old traditions meet forward-looking modernity, making the Japanese capital one of the most influential places in the world. The Berliner Philharmoniker perform at Suntory Hall, which opened in 1986 and is internationally renowned for its outstanding acoustics. The Main Hall, with 2,006 seats, was designed in vineyard style, following the model of the Philharmonie Berlin – a suggestion made by Herbert von Karajan.

The orchestra first visited Tokyo in 1957 with Herbert von Karajan. Their debut at the newly opened Suntory Hall followed in 1986 with Seiji Ozawa. Since then, the hall has become a second home for the Berliner Philharmoniker.

A special chapter began in 2023 with the “Be Phil Orchestra” project. Around 100 Japanese amateur musicians performed side by side with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Kirill Petrenko in Suntory Hall.

The Berliner Philharmoniker in Tokyo, 2023. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

A spacious, modern auditorium with rows of empty red cushioned seats, wooden accents, and balcony seating. Only a few people are scattered throughout the hall. — Inside the concert hall of Suntory Hall. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

Aerial view of Tokyo with many tall buildings, skyscrapers, and winding roads, under a soft evening sky with a slight haze in the distance. — Aerial view of Tokyo

A large symphony orchestra, with musicians holding various instruments, poses for a group photo on a concert hall stage. Most wear matching black shirts with yellow text. Empty audience seats are visible behind them. — Be Phil Orchestra in Tokyo, 2023. | Picture: Monika Rittershaus

A large orchestra performs on stage beneath a Japanese flag. Musicians are seated in rows with various instruments, and a conductor stands at the center. Audience members are visible in the foreground. — The Berliner Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan in Tokyo, 1957. | Picture: Archive Berliner Philharmoniker

20 November 2025: Yokohama

Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city, lies just south of Tokyo. It is known for the modern Minato Mirai district, its lively waterfront and historic Chinatown. In this city of 3.7 million, maritime heritage meets urban life. The Berliner Philharmoniker perform at Minato Mirai Hall. Opened in 1998, the concert hall seats 2,020 guests and is admired for its grand organ and excellent acoustics, especially for symphonic music.

Even the entrance offers a special artistic experience. When visitors pass through the mall entrance to reach the hall, they are welcomed by a mural entitled An Air for All Seasons by Tamura Noriko. Twelve muses symbolically guide the audience into the world of music.

Yokohama skyline at dusk with modern high-rise buildings, a large Ferris wheel, and boats docked along the waterfront under a partly cloudy sky. — Yokohama

A spacious, modern concert hall with rows of seats, a large pipe organ at the back of the stage, wood panelling and a decorative chandelier in the centre under a high, vaulted ceiling. — Yokohama Minato Mirai Saal | Picture: Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall

A spacious, bright hallway with cream-colored floors and walls, featuring large, orange-toned abstract murals on both sides and modern ceiling lighting. — “An Air for All Seasons” by Tamura Noriko. | Picture: Minato Mirai Hall

22 November 2025: Kawasaki

With over 1.5 million residents, Kawasaki is a major industrial city whose skyline is shaped by factories and infrastructure. Less touristy than neighbouring Tokyo or Yokohama, it maintains a distinct urban identity and a vibrant local culture. The Berliner Philharmoniker perform at MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall. Opened in 2004, the hall seats 1,997 guests in a vineyard-style layout and is renowned for its crystal-clear acoustics. It is also home to the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.

The Berliner Philharmoniker made their debut at MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall in 2004 under Sir Simon Rattle. Their most recent appearance there was in 2023 with Kirill Petrenko.