Residency in Shanghai

Published on: 24.06.2024

Blogbeitrag, Liveticker

After an acclaimed season finale at the Waldbühne, the Berliner Philharmoniker, chief conductor Kirill Petrenko, and pianist Yuja Wang travel to Shanghai from 25 to 30 June. The residency includes four orchestra concerts as part of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, seven chamber concerts throughout the city, and immersive events including open rehearsals, public masterclasses, and school visits. Follow the residency here with our live ticker.

Sunday, 30 June 2024, 7.30 pm

And it's over already! On Sunday evening, the Berliner Philharmoniker bid farewell to its Chinese audience with the final symphony concert of this tour in Shanghai's Grand Theatre. It was a week packed with fantastic encounters and memorable musical moments. Thank you so much, Shanghai!

Saturday, 29 June 2024, 7.30 pm

Time flies when you're having fun - Saturday’s concert was already the second-last of our Chinese residency! In the Shanghai Grand Theatre, soloist Yuja Wang gave an unforgettably intense account of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, which was followed by a moving performance of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.

Modern and yet traditional: the Shanghai Grand Theatre was China's first Western-style theatre and opera house. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Solo cellist Bruno Delepelaire: Full concentration backstage. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

String players amongst themselves ... | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Percussionist Franz Schindlbeck adjusts his bow tie one last time. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

A rare chance to sit together: Cellist Martin Menking and solo horn player Stefan Dohr. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Christoph von der Nahmer, violin, uses the last minutes before the concert to warm up. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Yuja Wang gives another brilliant performance in the second concert of the tour with Beethoven’s G major piano concerto. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Long queues for autographs after the penultimate concert of the residency in Shanghai. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Bettina Sartorius, Marlene Ito (violin) and Vincent Vogel (timpani) | Picture: Stephan Rabold

In high spirits after the concert: timpanist Vincent Vogel. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Saturday, 29 June 2024, 1 pm

The musicians from the youth orchestra of the China Shanghai International Art Festival were among those able to experience a live rehearsal of the Berliner Philharmoniker on Saturday afternoon. Afterwards, they had the opportunity to ask questions in an exclusive Q & A session with the orchestra.

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s education programme has been made possible by Deutsche Bank since its inception in 2002. The aim of both partners is to make the work of the orchestra accessible to a wide audience and to inspire people of all ages for music and culture.

Friday, 28 June 2024, 7.30 pm

On Friday evening, three more philharmonic chamber music concerts took place at various venues in Shanghai. The Ensemble Berlin was welcomed by the local marching band at Shanghai Tech University.

The young musicians shortly before their performance. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

The concert began with a brass band version of Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk”, which put everyone involved in a very good mood! | Picture: Stephan Rabold

The Ensemble Berlin's programme included pieces by Mozart, Beethoven and Rossini. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Oboe player Christoph Hartmann | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Double bass player Gunars Upatnieks | Picture: Stephan Rabold

After the concert, there is time for an ensemble selfie with the audience. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Friday, 28 June 2024

Sharing their expertise is a high priority for the musicians of the Berliner Philharmoniker, especially when they are on tour. On Friday in Shanghai, principal clarinettist Wenzel Fuchs, violist Walter Küssner and Marlene Ito, 1st section leader of the second violins, gave masterclasses for local musicians.

Thursday, 27 June 2024, 7.30 pm

Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben was on the programme for our second symphonic concert in Shanghai. The Bavarian composer’s tone poem has been in the Berliner Philharmoniker's touring luggage for almost 100 years. The orchestra also played Brahms’ Tragic Overture and the Overture and Venusberg from Wagner’s Tannhäuser.

In Strauss’s “Ein Heldenleben”, 1st concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley plays a special role. His violin solos represent the hero’s companion. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

On harp: Marie-Pierre Langlamet with Sophie Shen, member of the Karajan Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Applause for solo flautist Emmanuel Pahud. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Andre Schoch, Bertold Stecher and David Guerrier receive enthusiastic applause. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

After the concert, the audience enjoys a brief personal exchange with Alexander von Puttkamer (tuba), Sarah Willis (horn) and Philipp Bohnen (violin) during the autograph session. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 7.30 pm

The Berliner Philharmoniker gave the first of its residency's four symphony concerts on Wednesday evening at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. In addition to Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and pieces by Maurice Ravel, the programme included Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto with soloist Yuja Wang.

Always important: Please do not use mobile phones or cameras during the concert! | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Soloist Yuja Wang also played Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto at the Waldbühne for our season finale. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Maurice Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infante défunte”, the second suite from his “Daphnis et Chloé” and his legendary “Boléro” are on the programme. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

The China Shanghai International Arts Festival not only includes concerts; ballet and theatre are also part of the year-round festival programme. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

This is chief conductor Kirill Petrenko's first concert in China with the Berliner Philharmoniker. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Wednesday, 26 June 2024

#SharingMusic in Shanghai: The Philharmonic String Quartet played at the German School in Hongqiao on Wednesday - the 100 or so pupils also included guests from the Lycée Français and the Chinese partner school Caoyang High School.

After the school visit, there are flowers and profuse thanks for the musicians. | Picture: Katja Frei

A view of the Little Bridge School hall and audience. | Picture: Katja Frei

Double bass player Piotr Zimnik gives a short interview. | Picture: Katja Frei

Katja Frei, Director Education & Outreach, welcomes the young audience. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

On the programme: Franz Schubert’s beautiful string quartet “Death and the Maiden”. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Naoko Shimizu (viola) | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Cellist Stephan Koncz gives an introduction to the music and answers questions about the piece. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Helena Madoka Berg (violin) | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Tuesday, 25. June, 7.30 pm

Four chamber music concerts took place simultaneously at several different concert venues in Shanghai on Tuesday evening. In our picture gallery: the wind section of the Berliner Philharmoniker.

The Theatre Young is located in the Yangpu district, home to a number of well-known universities. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

The programme includes Harmoniemusik No. 1 by Franz Krommer, as well as works by Weber, Beethoven and Mozart. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Solo oboist Jonathan Kelly and oboe colleague Christoph Hartmann warm up before the concert. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Martin Heinze (double bass) on his way to the stage. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Members of the wind section in action. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

After the performance, there are of course autographs for the enthusiastic fans - with musicians like horn-player Andrej Žust. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Jonathan Kelly (principal oboe) | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Barbara Kehrig (bassoon) | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Clarinetist Alexander Bader | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Tuesday, 25 June

After arriving in Shanghai, the orchestra members started the week with a discovery tour of the city. This tour took some of the musicians to the Shanghai Museum, which presents over a million exhibits at three different locations ranging from ancient Chinese art to international artefacts.

With a population of almost 25 million, Shanghai is one of the largest cities in the world. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Trumpeter Andre Schoch explores the metropolis on foot. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

In addition to modern high-rise buildings, Shanghai is also home to older, traditional buildings from bygone eras - the first traces of settlement in the region date back to around 4000 BC. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Janusz Widzyk (double bass) and Wieland Welzel (timpani) look at exhibits in the Shanghai Museum. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Well-informed thanks to the audio guide: 1st concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Cellist Dietmar Schwalke | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Rain is not uncommon in Shanghai's hot, humid, subtropical summer. | Picture: Stephan Rabold

Monday, 24 June, 11 am

The week in Shanghai began with a press conference organised by the China Shanghai International Arts Festival. General Manager Andrea Zietzschmann, media board member Olaf Maninger, 1st concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley and 1st principal viola Diyang Mei spoke to Li Ming (President of the Festival) about the upcoming concerts and events. Our residency is received with lively interest.