“Signs & Wonders” The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Biennale

Programme & Tickets Background & Stories

What do we believe? Which spiritual forces, which values guide us? This question runs through many great works of music and remains timeless in its urgency. In our biennial Signs & Wonders – on faith, hope and doubt, we explore questions of transcendence and belief through a programme that brings together a wide range of genres, sounds and perspectives. Major sacred works such as Beethoven’s Missa solemnis can be experienced here alongside a Late Night concert that reimagines the music of Hildegard von Bingen for our own time.

Programme & Events

Kirill Petrenko stands at the conductor’s desk and conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu 14 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Biennale Opening Concert

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by
Olivier Messiaen, Sarah Nemtsov and Paul Hindemith

Olivier Messiaen
Les Offrandes oubliées

Sarah Nemtsov
Antlitz (premiere), commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, commissioned by Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, th eLucerne Festival and the Bayerische Staatsoper

Interval

Paul Hindemith
Symphony Mathis der Maler

Programme note

Fri 15 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Biennale Opening Concert

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by
Olivier Messiaen, Sarah Nemtsov and Paul Hindemith

Olivier Messiaen
Les Offrandes oubliées

Sarah Nemtsov
Antlitz (premiere), commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, commissioned by Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, th eLucerne Festival and the Bayerische Staatsoper

Interval

Paul Hindemith
Symphony Mathis der Maler

Programme note

Sat 16 January 2027, 19:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Biennale Opening Concert

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor

Works by
Olivier Messiaen, Sarah Nemtsov and Paul Hindemith

Olivier Messiaen
Les Offrandes oubliées

Sarah Nemtsov
Antlitz (premiere), commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, commissioned by Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, th eLucerne Festival and the Bayerische Staatsoper

Interval

Paul Hindemith
Symphony Mathis der Maler

Programme note

Stream

A brick church with a tall green spire and arched windows stands in an open area, surrounded by trees and an empty parking lot under a clear blue sky.

Sat 16 January 2027, 22:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
St. Matthäus-Kirche

Late Night

Cornelia Gartemann violin
Harry Ward violin
Julia Gartemann viola
Solène Kermarrec cello

Works by
Joseph Haydn

Joseph Haydn
The Seven Last Words of Christ (version for string quartet)

A conductor speaks into a microphone on stage in front of an orchestra, whose musicians sit with their instruments and music stands during a formal concert performance.

Sun 17 January 2027, 11:00 Main Auditorium

Family Concert: “Mathis der Maler”

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor and co-presentation
Nelly Danker stage direction

Works by
Paul Hindemith

Paul Hindemith
Symphony Mathis der Maler

Programme note

Sun 17 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic

NDR Vokalensemble
Daniel García Trio:
Daniel García piano, rhodes and synthesizer
Reinier Elizarde bass
Michael Olivera drums

Adam Baldych Quintet:
Adam Bałdych violin and renaissance violin
Marek Konarski tenor saxophone
Sebastian Zawadzki piano
Andrzej Święs double bass
Dawid Fortuna drums

Bertrand Chamayou in a white shirt and black pants sits backward on a red upholstered chair, looking to the side, in a dimly lit room with textured walls and dramatic blue-toned lighting.

Tue 19 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Piano recital

Bertrand Chamayou piano

Works by
Olivier Messiaen

Olivier Messiaen
Vingt regards sur lʼenfant-Jésus

Presenter Christiane Florin sits in the foyer of the Philharmonie Berlin and speaks into a microphone.

Wed 20 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall Upper Foyer

Discourse at the Philharmonie

A man with short hair is standing in front of a large window. He is wearing a black suit, has his hands in his trouser pockets and is looking into the camera.

Thu 21 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker
François-Xavier Roth conductor
Véronique Gens soprano
Julien Behr tenor
Jean-Sébastien Bou baritone

Works by
Richard Strauss, Hector Berlioz and Lili Boulanger

Richard Strauss
Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings

Hector Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, op. 17: Roméo seul

Hector Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, op. 17: La Reine Mab, ou la Fée des Songes

Interval

Lili Boulanger
Faust et Hélène

Véronique Gens soprano, Julien Behr tenor, Jean-Sébastien Bou baritone

Fri 22 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker
François-Xavier Roth conductor
Véronique Gens soprano
Julien Behr tenor
Jean-Sébastien Bou baritone

Works by
Richard Strauss, Hector Berlioz and Lili Boulanger

Richard Strauss
Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings

Hector Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, op. 17: Roméo seul

Hector Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, op. 17: La Reine Mab, ou la Fée des Songes

Interval

Lili Boulanger
Faust et Hélène

Véronique Gens soprano, Julien Behr tenor, Jean-Sébastien Bou baritone

Sat 23 January 2027, 19:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker
François-Xavier Roth conductor
Véronique Gens soprano
Julien Behr tenor
Jean-Sébastien Bou baritone

Works by
Richard Strauss, Hector Berlioz and Lili Boulanger

Richard Strauss
Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings

Hector Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, op. 17: Roméo seul

Hector Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, op. 17: La Reine Mab, ou la Fée des Songes

Interval

Lili Boulanger
Faust et Hélène

Véronique Gens soprano, Julien Behr tenor, Jean-Sébastien Bou baritone

Stream

Sat 23 January 2027, 22:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
St. Matthäus-Kirche

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Late Night

Heinali composition and sound art
Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko vocals

Hildegarda. Interpretations of works by Hildegard von Bingen for vocals and modular synthesizer

Sun 24 January 2027, 11:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Organ matinee

Wayne Marshall organ
Blechbläserensemble der Berliner Philharmoniker:
Guillaume Jehl trumpet
Tamás Velenczei trumpet
Sarah Willis french horn
Olaf Ott trombone
Jesper Busk Sørensen trombone
Stefan Stefan trombone
Alexander von Puttkamer tuba
David Guerrier trumpet
Bertold Stecher trumpet
Jonathon Robert Ramsay trombone

Works by
Felix Mendelssohn, Marcel Dupré, Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Gaston Litaize and Gustav Mahler

Felix Mendelssohn
Paulus, op. 36: Overture (arr. for brass and organ by Johannes M. Michel)

Marcel Dupré
1. Le Monde dans lʼattente du Sauveur

Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Choralimprovisationen, op. 65: No. 66 “Wunderbarer König” for organ, trumpets, trombones and timpani

Marcel Dupré
Symphonie-Passion for Organ, op. 23: 2nd Movement Nativité

Gaston Litaize
Cortège for organ and brass

Marcel Dupré
Symphonie-Passion for Organ, op. 23: 3rd Movement Crucifixion

Gustav Mahler
Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Urlicht (arr. for brass by Ben Mansted)

Marcel Dupré
Symphonie-Passion for Organ, op. 23: 4th Movement Résurrection

Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 5 in D minor, op. 107 “Reformation”: Introduction, Chorale, Variations and Finale (arr. for brass and organ by Johannes M. Michel)

Harlem Gospel Singers in red robes performs on stage; one singer in front passionately sings with arm raised, while others stand behind with microphones.

Sun 24 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Harlem Gospel Singers

Multiple globes showing world maps are reflected in mirrors, creating the illusion of endless, repeating blue and green spheres against a dark background.

Mon 25 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

World

Jawa

Kirill Petrenko conducts the orchestra with a baton. He stands on a podium, with sheet music in front of him. Wearing a black suit, he has a focused expression, and in the background, there is a dimly lit audience.

Thu 28 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Golda Schultz soprano
Wiebke Lehmkuhl contralto
Sebastian Kohlhepp tenor
David Steffens bass
Rundfunkchor Berlin

Works by
Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven
Missa solemnis in D major, op. 123

Fri 29 January 2027, 20:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Golda Schultz soprano
Wiebke Lehmkuhl contralto
Sebastian Kohlhepp tenor
David Steffens bass
Rundfunkchor Berlin

Works by
Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven
Missa solemnis in D major, op. 123

Sat 30 January 2027, 19:00 Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Golda Schultz soprano
Wiebke Lehmkuhl contralto
Sebastian Kohlhepp tenor
David Steffens bass
Rundfunkchor Berlin

Works by
Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven
Missa solemnis in D major, op. 123

Stream

“Signs & Wonders”The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Biennale “Signs & Wonders” The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Biennale

Programme & Events Programme & Events

“Signs & Wonders” The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Biennale

Programme & Events