“Signs & Wonders” The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Biennale

Date
14.01. – 30.01.27

Programme
Concerts · Talks · Collaborations with museums

Works by
Messiaen · Hindemith · Haydn
Strauss · Nemtsov · Boulanger
Berlioz · von Bingen · Beethoven a. o.

Participants
Kirill Petrenko · François-Xavier Roth ·
Betrand Chamayou· Wayne Marshall a. o.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
St. Matthäus-Kirche

Late Night

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

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

Read more
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.

Main Auditorium

Family Concert: “Mathis der Maler”

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

Paul Hindemith
Symphony Mathis der Maler

Programme note

Read more

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
Pablo Martín Caminero bass

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

Read more
Ein modernes Betongebäude mit geometrischen Formen und großen Fenstern, an dessen Fassade ein Banner mit dem Thema Geige prangt. Auf der Straße davor parken und fahren Autos. In der Nähe gibt es Bäume und Grünflächen.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Museum of Musical Instruments

Masterclass Messiaen Vokal
Anne Le Bozec
Students of Berlin Academies of Music

Read more
Ein modernes Betongebäude mit geometrischen Formen und großen Fenstern, an dessen Fassade ein Banner mit dem Thema Geige prangt. Auf der Straße davor parken und fahren Autos. In der Nähe gibt es Bäume und Grünflächen.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Museum of Musical Instruments

Masterclass Messiaen Vokal
Anne Le Bozec
Students of Berlin Academies of Music

Read more
The orchestra stands in front of a wood-paneled wall, the picture is black and white.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall

Freiburger Barockorchester
Gottfried von der Goltz violin and direction

Works by
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K. 543

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter”

Read more

​Ticket sales through the Konzertdirektion Adler

Ein modernes Betongebäude mit geometrischen Formen und großen Fenstern, an dessen Fassade ein Banner mit dem Thema Geige prangt. Auf der Straße davor parken und fahren Autos. In der Nähe gibt es Bäume und Grünflächen.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Museum of Musical Instruments

Masterclass Messiaen Vokal
Anne Le Bozec
Students of Berlin Academies of Music

Read more
Ein modernes Betongebäude mit geometrischen Formen und großen Fenstern, an dessen Fassade ein Banner mit dem Thema Geige prangt. Auf der Straße davor parken und fahren Autos. In der Nähe gibt es Bäume und Grünflächen.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Museum of Musical Instruments

Masterclass Messiaen Vokal
Anne Le Bozec
Students of Berlin Academies of Music

Read more
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.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Piano recital

Bertrand Chamayou piano

Olivier Messiaen
Vingt regards sur lʼenfant-Jésus

Read more
Ein modernes Betongebäude mit geometrischen Formen und großen Fenstern, an dessen Fassade ein Banner mit dem Thema Geige prangt. Auf der Straße davor parken und fahren Autos. In der Nähe gibt es Bäume und Grünflächen.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Museum of Musical Instruments

Afternoon of lectures “Music and Religion”

Friederike Wißmann recital
Dorothee Bauer recital

Friederike Wissmann 

Lecture in German
„allein Freyheit, weiter gehn ist in der Kunstwelt, wie in der ganzen großen schöpfung, zweck»

Lecture in German
Beethovens Missa solemnis im Spannungsfeld von Freiheitsideal und Restauration 

Dorothee Bauer 

Lecture in German
Vogelstimmen, Hindu-Rhythmen, gregorianische Melodien. Klangfarben der Ewigkeit bei Olivier Messiaen 

Read more
Ein modernes Betongebäude mit geometrischen Formen und großen Fenstern, an dessen Fassade ein Banner mit dem Thema Geige prangt. Auf der Straße davor parken und fahren Autos. In der Nähe gibt es Bäume und Grünflächen.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Museum of Musical Instruments

Masterclass final concert

Masterclass Messiaen Vokal
Anne Le Bozec
Students of Berlin Academies of Music

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

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall Upper Foyer

Discourse at the Philharmonie

Read more
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.

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

Read more
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.

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

Read more
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.

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

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.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
St. Matthäus-Kirche

Late Night

Heinali composition and sound art
Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko vocals

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

Read more

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Organ matinee

Wayne Marshall organ
Brass of the Karajan-Akademie der Berliner Philharmoniker

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)

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

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Harlem Gospel Singers

Read more
Six men in dark suits with musical instruments pose around a tree stump outdoors, while a man in white robes with raised arms stands behind them among tall trees in a sunlit, leafy setting.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Chamber Music Hall

At the invitation of the Berliner Philharmoniker

World

Jawa

Read more

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Otto-Braun-Saal

Reading at the Berlin State Library

Read more
A symphony orchestra performs on a large, well-lit stage in a concert hall, with musicians and instruments reflected on a shiny surface below and an audience seated in the dimly lit background.

Biennale of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Main Auditorium

Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Vladimir Jurowski conductor

Works by
Bernd Alois Zimmermann and Anton Bruckner

Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Silence and Revearsal

Anton Bruckner
Symphony No. 9 in D minor

Read more

​Ticket sales through the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

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.

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

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

Read more
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.

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

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

Read more
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.

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

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