Date
13.02. - 01.03.25
Programme
Concerts · Lectures
Co-operations with museums
Works by
Srnka · Varèse · Beethoven
Tarkiainen · Dean · Villa-Lobos
Scriabin · Saariaho · Debussy a. o.
Artists
David Robertson · Marin Alsop ·
Dalia Stasevska · Alexander Melnikov a. o.
Climate change and species extinction threaten our planet. In February 2025, the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Biennale will address the threat to nature in a series of events titled Paradise lost? The perspectives are diverse: works such as Debussy’s La Mer and Beethoven’s Pastorale celebrate the beauty of our world, Miroslav Srnka’s Superorganisms shows the interconnectedness of life forms, Brett Dean’s Fire Music depicts the destruction caused by a bushfire. Discussion panels, lectures by experts and collaborations with museums and other orchestras will explore the theme in greater depth. The aim? A sharpened view of the crises and fresh perspectives for our future.
Heat, drought, floods – extreme weather events are hitting us more frequently and more severely. Our planet is in danger, and the cause is man-made climate change. Scientists agree that rapid and consistent countermeasures are needed. The Berliner Philharmoniker’s third Biennale in February 2025 will focus on this existential challenge with a series titled Paradise lost? On the threat to nature.
As part of the series, the Berliner Philharmoniker with present three concerts with David Robertson (replacing Kirill Petrenko) and guest conductors Marin Alsop and Dalia Stasevska; additional concerts will feature visiting soloists such as pianist Alexander Melnikov. Through the medium of music, the audience will be confronted with the devastating power of the elements of fire and water, but will also experience the breathtaking beauty of the Amazon rainforest. A total of three commissioned compositions, including the new work Superorganisms by Czech composer Miroslav Srnka, are dedicated to the Biennale theme. There will be chamber music and late-night concerts in additional locations around the city. Concerts by the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and the Freiburger Barockorchester complete the festival’s music programme.
However, the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Biennale is a cross-genre and cross-art-form festival that creates additional perspectives through events beyond the traditional scope of a concert hall. Partners for the next edition include the Berlin Natural History Museum and the Berlin State Library. Exhibitions, readings, talks, lectures by experts and installations in the foyer of the Philharmonie will explore the topic in greater depth.
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
David Robertson conductor (replacing Kirill Petrenko)
Works by
Edgard Varèse, Miroslav Srnka and Ludwig van Beethoven
Edgard Varèse
Arcana for large Orchestra (revised version from 1960)
Miroslav Srnka
Superorganisms, commissioned by Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic and Orchestre de Paris (German premiere)
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
David Robertson conductor (replacing Kirill Petrenko)
Works by
Edgard Varèse, Miroslav Srnka and Ludwig van Beethoven
Edgard Varèse
Arcana for large Orchestra (revised version from 1960)
Miroslav Srnka
Superorganisms, commissioned by Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic and Orchestre de Paris (German premiere)
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Musikinstrumenten-Museum, Curt-Sachs-Saal
Film screening: “Suites4nature”
Tanja Tetzlaff cello
Heinz von Loesch presentation
Sale by the SIM before the event
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
David Robertson conductor (replacing Kirill Petrenko)
Works by
Edgard Varèse, Miroslav Srnka and Ludwig van Beethoven
Edgard Varèse
Arcana for large Orchestra (revised version from 1960)
Miroslav Srnka
Superorganisms, commissioned by Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic and Orchestre de Paris (German premiere)
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
St. Matthäus-Kirche
At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Late Night: “Cantando hacia el Sur”
Lucas Dorado vibraphone
Mathilde Vendramin cello and vocals
Carolina Riaño vocals
Laura Robles cajon and percussion
Also available as Biennale package
Education
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Family concert: “Pastorale”
Berliner Philharmoniker
David Robertson conductor (anstelle von Kirill Petrenko)
Stephan Baumecker Acting
Tobias Ribitzki stage direction and text
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: Excerpts
Prices for adults include a donation for the UNO Flüchtlingshilfe
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Nicholas Collon conductor
Pekka Kuusisto violin
Works by
Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Jean Sibelius, Thomas Adès, Jón Leifs and Igor Stravinsky
Anna Thorvaldsdottir
CATAMORPHOSIS
Jean Sibelius
Two Serenades for Violin and Orchestra, op. 69
Pekka Kuusisto violin
Thomas Adès
Märchentänze (Dances for Fairytale) for violin and orchestra
Pekka Kuusisto violin
Jón Leifs
Geysir, prelude for orchestra, op. 51
Igor Stravinsky
Le Sacre du printemps
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall
At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Freiburger Barockorchester
Gottfried von der Goltz violin and direction
Cecilia Bernardini violin
Ann-Kathrin Brüggemann oboe
Eyal Streett bassoon
Daniela Lieb flute
Works by
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi
La fida ninfa RV 714: Overture
Antonio Vivaldi
Die vier Jahreszeiten op. 8 Nr. 1 – 4
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in D major, RV 428 ‟Il gardellinoˮ
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Strings and Continuo in F major ‟La Tempesta di Mareˮ, RV 570
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall
At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Piano recital
Alexander Melnikov piano
Works by
Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt and Alexander Scriabin
Franz Schubert
Fantasia in C major, D 760 “Wanderer Fantasy”
Robert Schumann
Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), op. 82
Interval
Franz Liszt
Waldesrauschen
Franz Liszt
Gnomenreigen
Franz Liszt
Nuages gris
Alexander Scriabin
Vers la flamme, op. 72
Alexander Scriabin
Deux Dances, op. 73
Alexander Scriabin
Five Preludes, op. 74
Alexander Scriabin
Piano Sonata No. 9, op. 68 ‟Black Massˮ
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall Upper Foyer
Discourse at the Philharmonie: “Is climate change disappearing from the political agenda?”
Antje Boetius and Steffen Mau in conversation with Christiane Florin
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Marin Alsop conductor
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Gijs Leenaars chorus master
Works by
Outi Tarkiainen, Brett Dean, Aaron Copland and Heitor Villa-Lobos
Outi Tarkiainen
Day Night Day, commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Première)
Brett Dean
Fire Music for orchestra (German premiere)
Interval
Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring Suite (1945)
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Chôros No. 10 ˮRasga o coração“ for orchestra and mixed choir
Rundfunkchor Berlin, Gijs Leenaars chorus master
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Marin Alsop conductor
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Gijs Leenaars chorus master
Works by
Outi Tarkiainen, Brett Dean, Aaron Copland and Heitor Villa-Lobos
Outi Tarkiainen
Day Night Day, commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Première)
Brett Dean
Fire Music for orchestra (German premiere)
Interval
Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring Suite (1945)
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Chôros No. 10 ˮRasga o coração“ for orchestra and mixed choir
Rundfunkchor Berlin, Gijs Leenaars chorus master
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Marin Alsop conductor
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Gijs Leenaars chorus master
Works by
Outi Tarkiainen, Brett Dean, Aaron Copland and Heitor Villa-Lobos
Outi Tarkiainen
Day Night Day, commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Première)
Brett Dean
Fire Music for orchestra (German premiere)
Interval
Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring Suite (1945)
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Chôros No. 10 ˮRasga o coração“ for orchestra and mixed choir
Rundfunkchor Berlin, Gijs Leenaars chorus master
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Neue Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Late Night: Music for the movie “All the beauty and the bloodshed”
Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Sarah Tysman rehearsals, direction
Zacharias Falkenberg arrangement
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Education
RADIALSYSTEM V
Terminal Infinity
Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker and of the Karajan-Akademie
Leah Marojević dance
Gyung Moo Kim dance
Dance On Ensemble
Ty Boomershine dance
Gesine Moog dance
Tim Persent dance
Lia Witjes Poole dance
Jugendtanzcompany von Sasha Waltz & Guests
Noomi Aldinger dance
Toni Lehnert dance
Leah Soltau dance
Nika Brovot dance
Jonathan Walker dance
Alexander Schubert Artistic direction, conception, composition and sound direction
Colette Sadler concept, development of the piece and choreography
Dominic Huber Scenography
Diego Muhr light design
Felina Levits costumes
Ludmilla Mercier Regieassistenz
Candid Rütter Video mapping and lighting assistance
Oscar Corpo music notation, instrumentation and composition assistance
Alexander Schubert
Terminal Infinity commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker (Premiere)
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
St. Matthäus-Kirche
hORA church service “Paradise lost”
Hannes Langbein (Pfarrer, Filmbeauftragter der EKBO)
Roland Wicher (Pfarrer, Filmbeauftragter der EKBO)
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Giedre Šlekyte conductor
Johan Dalene violin
Works by
Hannah Eisendle, Tebogo Monnakgotla and Robert Schumann
Hannah Eisendle
heliosis for orchestra
Tebogo Monnakgotla
Globe Skimmer Surfing the Somali Jet, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Johan Dalene violin
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, op. 38 “Spring”
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
St. Matthäus-Kirche
Film screening: “Geographies of Solitude”
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Education
RADIALSYSTEM V
Terminal Infinity
Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker and of the Karajan-Akademie
Leah Marojević dance
Gyung Moo Kim dance
Dance On Ensemble
Ty Boomershine dance
Gesine Moog dance
Tim Persent dance
Lia Witjes Poole dance
Jugendtanzcompany von Sasha Waltz & Guests
Noomi Aldinger dance
Toni Lehnert dance
Leah Soltau dance
Nika Brovot dance
Jonathan Walker dance
Alexander Schubert Artistic direction, conception, composition and sound direction
Colette Sadler concept, development of the piece and choreography
Dominic Huber Scenography
Diego Muhr light design
Felina Levits costumes
Ludmilla Mercier Regieassistenz
Candid Rütter Video mapping and lighting assistance
Oscar Corpo music notation, instrumentation and composition assistance
Alexander Schubert
Terminal Infinity commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker (Premiere)
Also available as Biennale package
Education
RADIALSYSTEM V
School concert: Terminal Infinity
Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker and of the Karajan-Akademie
Leah Marojević dance
Gyung Moo Kim dance
Dance On Ensemble
Ty Boomershine dance
Gesine Moog dance
Tim Persent dance
Lia Witjes Poole dance
Jugendtanzcompany von Sasha Waltz & Guests
Noomi Aldinger dance
Toni Lehnert dance
Leah Soltau dance
Nika Brovot dance
Jonathan Walker dance
Alexander Schubert Artistic direction, conception, composition and sound direction
Colette Sadler concept, development of the piece and choreography
Dominic Huber Scenography
Diego Muhr light design
Felina Levits costumes
Ludmilla Mercier Regieassistenz
Candid Rütter Video mapping and lighting assistance
Oscar Corpo music notation, instrumentation and composition assistance
Alexander Schubert
Terminal Infinity, commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker (premiere)
Free entry, registration only for schools
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Museum für Naturkunde
Lecture Concert
Martin Heinze double bass
Václav Vonášek Kontrafagott
Katharina und Parm von Oheimb
Works by
Erwin Schulhoff, James Tenney, Gernot Wolfgang, Paul Hindemith and Judith Weir
Erwin Schulhoff
Bassnachtigall for solo contrabassoon
James Tenney
BEAST for solo double bass
Gernot Wolfgang
Ready to Rumble! for two contrabassoons
Paul Hindemith
Four Pieces for Bassoon and Cello
Judith Weir
What sound will chase elephants away? for two double basses
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall
“Tipping Points. Vierzehn Arten den Klimawandel zu beschreiben”
Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Gregor A. Mayrhofer conductor
Harald Lesch presentation
Philipp Bohnen violin
Ulrich Knörzer viola
Ludwig Quandt cello
Janusz Widzyk double bass
Anja Malkov flute
Dominik Wollenweber oboe
Matic Kuder clarinet
Barbara Kehrig bassoon
László Gál french horn
Riccardo Caruso drums
Korbinian Fichtl drums
Sarah Tysman piano
Works by
Gregor A. Mayrhofer, Franz Liszt, Hanns Eisler and Olivier Messiaen
Gregor A. Mayrhofer
Tipping Points. Vierzehn Arten den Klimawandel zu beschreiben, commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation (Première)
Gregor A. Mayrhofer conductor, Philipp Bohnen violin, Ulrich Knörzer viola, Ludwig Quandt cello, Janusz Widzyk double bass, Anja Malkov flute, Dominik Wollenweber oboe, Matic Kuder clarinet, Barbara Kehrig bassoon, László Gál french horn, Riccardo Caruso drums, Korbinian Fichtl drums, Sarah Tysman piano
Franz Liszt
Nuages gris (arr. Gregor Mayrhofer)
Gregor A. Mayrhofer conductor, Philipp Bohnen violin, Ulrich Knörzer viola, Ludwig Quandt cello, Janusz Widzyk double bass, Anja Malkov flute, Dominik Wollenweber oboe, Matic Kuder clarinet, Barbara Kehrig bassoon, László Gál french horn, Riccardo Caruso drums, Korbinian Fichtl drums, Sarah Tysman piano
Hanns Eisler
Vierzehn Arten den Regen zu beschreiben
Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gregor A. Mayrhofer conductor, Harald Lesch presentation, Philipp Bohnen violin, Ulrich Knörzer viola, Ludwig Quandt cello, Janusz Widzyk double bass, Anja Malkov flute, Barbara Kehrig bassoon, Riccardo Caruso drums, Korbinian Fichtl drums, Sarah Tysman piano
Interval
Olivier Messiaen
Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 3rd Movement Abîme des oiseaux
Matic Kuder clarinet
Olivier Messiaen
Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 8th Movement Louange à l'Immortalité de Jésus
Philipp Bohnen violin, Sarah Tysman piano
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Study Room of the Kupferstichkabinett
Paradises on paper: Is art our salvation?
Pop-up Exhibition and Talk with Dagmar Korbacher
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Staatsbibliothek Haus 2 Potsdamer Straße
Reading by Iris Berben
Iris Berben Reading
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Dalia Stasevska conductor
Jean-Frédéric Neuburger piano
Works by
Jean Sibelius, Edvard Grieg, Kaija Saariaho and Claude Debussy
Jean Sibelius
Pohjolas Tochter
Edvard Grieg
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, op. 16
Jean-Frédéric Neuburger piano
Interval
Kaija Saariaho
Orion
Claude Debussy
La Mer
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Dalia Stasevska conductor
Jean-Frédéric Neuburger piano
Works by
Jean Sibelius, Edvard Grieg, Kaija Saariaho and Claude Debussy
Jean Sibelius
Pohjolas Tochter
Edvard Grieg
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, op. 16
Jean-Frédéric Neuburger piano
Interval
Kaija Saariaho
Orion
Claude Debussy
La Mer
Also available as Biennale package
Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Dalia Stasevska conductor
Jean-Frédéric Neuburger piano
Works by
Jean Sibelius, Edvard Grieg, Kaija Saariaho and Claude Debussy
Jean Sibelius
Pohjolas Tochter
Edvard Grieg
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, op. 16
Jean-Frédéric Neuburger piano
Interval
Kaija Saariaho
Orion
Claude Debussy
La Mer
Also available as Biennale package
Nature and music
Composers of all ages have been inspired by nature to write magnificent works: only their aesthetic outlook and their individual approach have changed with the passage of time. Here is a brief survey of this subject
“Is what we’re doing enough?”
Marin Alsop, making her debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker, will present four depictions of nature from four different continents at the Biennale “Paradise lost?”.
From the far north to the wider world
The Finnish musician Dalia Stasevska is one of the most promising members of the younger generation of female conductors.
Antje Boetius in conversation
Marine biologist Antje Boetius will join a discussion at the Philharmonie as part of this year’s Biennale, “Paradise Lost?”. In our interview, she talks about the role that climate change will continue to play in society, and whether we will ever truly learn to see the ocean as a gigantic habitat.
The idyll in music
In music and art, the idyll symbolizes a better world, idealistic and yet fragile. Find out here how the idyll came into the music and what purpose it serves.