Symphonies
Brahms 1 · Skrjabin 3
Beethoven 2 · Mahler 8
Opera / Ballett
Wagner: Das Rheingold
Stravinsky: Pulcinella · Petruschka
Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin
Discoveries
Dusapin: Exeo
Zimmermann: Oboe concerto
Janáček: Lachian Dances
Soloists
Janine Jansen
Benjamin Bernheim
Jonas Kaufmann
Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” is a colossus – not just musically, but also in terms of its ideas and conception. Mahler described it as “like the whole universe starting to ring and reverberate”. Chief conductor Kirill Petrenko is also embarking on another large-scale musical project: with Wagner’s Das Rheingold, he will lay the foundations for a complete performance of Der Ring des Nibelungen. Stories told through the medium of music are generally at the heart of his work, also illustrated this season through the ballet music of Stravinsky, Bartók, and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet. The core of the orchestra’s repertoire is represented by music by Brahms and Beethoven.
The range of works that Kirill Petrenko will be conducting at his concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker in 2025/26 is vast, extending from Viennese Classicism to the music of the twenty-first century, from a solo concerto to a ballet suite and from a German music drama to Italian opera arias. As the orchestra’s chief conductor, he will also be advancing further into the areas that he has been gradually opening up since he and the orchestra embarked on their journey together. He views the music of German and Austrian Classical and Romantic composers as part of the orchestra’s DNA, forming the core of their repertoire. In the new season, this tradition will be represented by works such as Beethoven’s Second Symphony, Brahms’s First and Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand”, a work that is an oratorio which also marks the culmination of the symphony’s development as a genre.
A second aspect of Kirill Petrenko’s repertoire choices is the world of Slavic culture: this is music that has always been close to his heart. Czech music can be heard in Leoš Janáček's exhilarating Lachian Dances, Russian music in Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations and Romeo and Juliet as well as in Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Pulcinella and by Scriabin’s Third Symphony, also known as Le divin poème. But Kirill Petrenko is also interested in composers who have been unjustly neglected as a result of war or political circumstances. They include Bernd Alois Zimmermann, whose exuberant early Oboe Concerto he will conduct, with Albrecht Mayer as the soloist. Recent music will be represented by Pascal Dusapin’s Exeo, the title that the French composer has given to his Fifth Solo for Orchestra, which Kirill Petrenko describes as “both powerful and wonderfully beautiful”.
In all of the works he conducts, Kirill Petrenko finds a unifying motivation: “Every work of music has a message that relates it to the outside world,” he explains. This is true not only of symphonic poems that have a clearly stated programme, but also of symphonies that may initially appear to be examples of “absolute music”. During the 2025/26 season Kirill Petrenko, will conduct many works with an underlying narrative. These include not only ballets by Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky’s overture-fantasy Romeo and Juliet (mentioned above), but also the Suite from Béla Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin, alongside Ottorino Respighi's musical portraits of the pines and famous fountains of Rome. With Das Rheingold, which Wagner himself called the “preliminary evening” of his Ring cycle, Kirill Petrenko and his orchestra will celebrate their return to the Salzburg Easter Festival, while also continuing a much-loved tradition by bringing a concert performance of the work home to the ideal acoustics of Berlin's Philharmonie.
Main Auditorium
Season opening
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Works by
Robert Schumann, Bernd Alois Zimmermann and Johannes Brahms
Robert Schumann
Manfred Overture, op. 115
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Interval
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Works by
Pascal Dusapin, Bernd Alois Zimmermann and Johannes Brahms
Pascal Dusapin
Exeo, Solo No. 5 for orchestra
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Interval
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Works by
Pascal Dusapin, Bernd Alois Zimmermann and Johannes Brahms
Pascal Dusapin
Exeo, Solo No. 5 for orchestra
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Interval
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Works by
Pascal Dusapin, Bernd Alois Zimmermann and Johannes Brahms
Pascal Dusapin
Exeo, Solo No. 5 for orchestra
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra
Albrecht Mayer oboe
Interval
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Works by
Leoš Janáček, Béla Bartók and Igor Stravinsky
Leoš Janáček
Lašské tance (Lachian Dances)
Béla Bartók
The Miraculous Mandarin, Suite, Sz 73
Interval
Igor Stravinsky
Petrushka (Version from 1947)
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Works by
Leoš Janáček, Béla Bartók and Igor Stravinsky
Leoš Janáček
Lašské tance (Lachian Dances)
Béla Bartók
The Miraculous Mandarin, Suite, Sz 73
Interval
Igor Stravinsky
Petrushka (Version from 1947)
Main Auditorium
New Year’s Eve Concert
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Works by
Works by Peter Tschaikowsky, Charles Gounod, Georges Bizet, Jules Massenet, Emmanuel Chabrier and George Gershwin
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Eugen Onegin, op. 24: Polonaise
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Eugene Onegin, op. 24: Introduction, Scene and Lensky’s Aria from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Charles Gounod
Roméo et Juliette: “L’amour!”, Cavatina of Romeo from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture after Shakespeare
Interval (not on 31.12.2025)
Georges Bizet
Carmen: Ouvertüre. Allegro giocoso
Georges Bizet
Carmen: “La fleur que tu m'avais jetée”. Aria by Don José from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Georges Bizet
L'Arlésienne. Suite No. 2 for orchestra – No. 4 Farandole
Jules Massenet
Werther: Prelude to Act 1
Jules Massenet
Werther: “Pourquoi me reveiller”, Aria of Werther from Act 3
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Emmanuel Chabrier
España, Rhapsody for orchestra
George Gershwin
Cuban Overture
Main Auditorium
New Year’s Eve Concert
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Works by
Works by Peter Tschaikowsky, Charles Gounod, Georges Bizet, Jules Massenet, Emmanuel Chabrier and George Gershwin
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Eugen Onegin, op. 24: Polonaise
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Eugene Onegin, op. 24: Introduction, Scene and Lensky’s Aria from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Charles Gounod
Roméo et Juliette: “L’amour!”, Cavatina of Romeo from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture after Shakespeare
Interval (not on 31.12.2025)
Georges Bizet
Carmen: Ouvertüre. Allegro giocoso
Georges Bizet
Carmen: “La fleur que tu m'avais jetée”. Aria by Don José from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Georges Bizet
L'Arlésienne. Suite No. 2 for orchestra – No. 4 Farandole
Jules Massenet
Werther: Prelude to Act 1
Jules Massenet
Werther: “Pourquoi me reveiller”, Aria of Werther from Act 3
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Emmanuel Chabrier
España, Rhapsody for orchestra
George Gershwin
Cuban Overture
Main Auditorium
New Year’s Eve Concert
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Works by
Works by Peter Tschaikowsky, Charles Gounod, Georges Bizet, Jules Massenet, Emmanuel Chabrier and George Gershwin
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Eugen Onegin, op. 24: Polonaise
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Eugene Onegin, op. 24: Introduction, Scene and Lensky’s Aria from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Charles Gounod
Roméo et Juliette: “L’amour!”, Cavatina of Romeo from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture after Shakespeare
Interval (not on 31.12.2025)
Georges Bizet
Carmen: Ouvertüre. Allegro giocoso
Georges Bizet
Carmen: “La fleur que tu m'avais jetée”. Aria by Don José from Act 2
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Georges Bizet
L'Arlésienne. Suite No. 2 for orchestra – No. 4 Farandole
Jules Massenet
Werther: Prelude to Act 1
Jules Massenet
Werther: “Pourquoi me reveiller”, Aria of Werther from Act 3
Benjamin Bernheim tenor
Emmanuel Chabrier
España, Rhapsody for orchestra
George Gershwin
Cuban Overture
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Jacquelyn Wagner soprano (Magna peccatrix)
Golda Schultz soprano (Una poenitentium)
Jasmin Delfs soprano (Mater gloriosa)
Beth Taylor contralto (Mulier samaritana)
Fleur Barron mezzo-soprano (Maria Aegyptiaca)
Benjamin Bruns tenor (Doctor Marianus)
Gihoon Kim baritone (Pater ecstaticus)
Le Bu bass (Pater profundus)
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Knaben des Staats- Boys of the Berlin State and Cathedral Choir
Bachchor Salzburg
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand”
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Jacquelyn Wagner soprano (Magna peccatrix)
Golda Schultz soprano (Una poenitentium)
Jasmin Delfs soprano (Mater gloriosa)
Beth Taylor contralto (Mulier samaritana)
Fleur Barron mezzo-soprano (Maria Aegyptiaca)
Benjamin Bruns tenor (Doctor Marianus)
Gihoon Kim baritone (Pater ecstaticus)
Le Bu bass (Pater profundus)
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Knaben des Staats- Boys of the Berlin State and Cathedral Choir
Bachchor Salzburg
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand”
Artist in Residence
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Janine Jansen violin
Works by
Johannes Brahms and Alexander Scriabin
Johannes Brahms
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op. 77
Janine Jansen violin
Interval
Alexander Scriabin
Symphony No. 3 in C minor op. 43
Artist in Residence
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Janine Jansen violin
Works by
Johannes Brahms and Alexander Scriabin
Johannes Brahms
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op. 77
Janine Jansen violin
Interval
Alexander Scriabin
Symphony No. 3 in C minor op. 43
Artist in Residence
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Janine Jansen violin
Works by
Johannes Brahms and Alexander Scriabin
Johannes Brahms
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op. 77
Janine Jansen violin
Interval
Alexander Scriabin
Symphony No. 3 in C minor op. 43
On tour
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Christian Gerhaher baritone (Wotan)
Gihoon Kim baritone (Donner)
Thomas Atkins tenor (Froh)
Brenton Ryan tenor (Loge)
Leigh Melrose baritone (Alberich)
Thomas Cilluffo tenor (Mime)
Patrick Guetti bass (Fafner)
Le Bu bass-baritone (Fasolt)
Catriona Morison mezzo-soprano (Fricka)
Sarah Brady soprano (Freia)
Jasmin White contralto (Erda)
Louise Foor soprano (Woglinde)
Yajie Zhang mezzo-soprano (Wellgunde)
Jess Dandy contralto (Floßhilde)
Richard Wagner
Das Rheingold
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Gautier Capuçon cello
Works by
Igor Stravinsky, Piotr Tchaikovsky and Ludwig van Beethoven
Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella, Suite (revised version from 1949)
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra in A major, op. 33
Gautier Capuçon cello
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 36
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Gautier Capuçon cello
Works by
Igor Stravinsky, Piotr Tchaikovsky and Ludwig van Beethoven
Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella, Suite (revised version from 1949)
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra in A major, op. 33
Gautier Capuçon cello
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 36
Main Auditorium
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Gautier Capuçon cello
Works by
Igor Stravinsky, Piotr Tchaikovsky and Ludwig van Beethoven
Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella, Suite (revised version from 1949)
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra in A major, op. 33
Gautier Capuçon cello
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 36
Main Auditorium
Family Concert: “Pulcinella”
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor and co-presentation
Philipp Bohnen presentation
Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella, Suite (revised version from 1949)
Chamber Music Hall
Karajan-Akademie der Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Works by
Claude Debussy, Jacques Ibert, Maurice Ravel and Franz Schubert
Claude Debussy
String Quartet in G minor
Jacques Ibert
Trois Pièces brèves for wind quintet
Maurice Ravel
Introduction et Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet
Interval
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D 417
Waldbühne
End-of-season concert at the Waldbühne
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
Jonas Kaufmann tenor
Works by
Giuseppe Verdi, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Francesco Cilèa, Umberto Giordano and Ottorino Respighi
Giuseppe Verdi
La forza del destino: Overture
Ruggero Leoncavallo
Pagliacci: "Si, può?", Prologue of Tonio
Jonas Kaufmann tenor
Ruggero Leoncavallo
»Recitar ... Vesti la giubba«, Aria of Canio
Jonas Kaufmann tenor
Francesco Cilèa
L'Arlesiana: »È la solita storia ... Anch'io vorrei«, Aria of Frederico
Jonas Kaufmann tenor
Umberto Giordano
Fedora: “Amor ti vietaˮ, Aria of Loris
Jonas Kaufmann tenor
Interval
Ottorino Respighi
Fontane di Roma
Ottorino Respighi
Pini di Roma
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