Today, the Berliner Philharmoniker and their chief conductor Kirill Petrenko will set off on a three-week concert tour of Asia. From 3 to 23 November, the orchestra will perform in a total of seven cities – first, their traditional appearance in Frankfurt am Main, then Seoul, Taipei, Shanghai, Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki – presenting a programme that showcases the emotional and tonal diversity of the European musical tradition.
Starting today at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, the programme will feature Robert Schumann’s Manfred Overture, op. 115, Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68. This programme will also be performed at concerts in Taipei (12/13 November), Shanghai (16 November), Kawasaki (22 November) and Tokyo (23 November).
In Seoul, the renowned pianist Sunwook Kim joins the Berliner Philharmoniker as the soloist in Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54 on 7 and 9 November. The programme also includes Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, Schumann’s Manfred Overture and Brahms’ First Symphony.
A second tour programme is devoted to vibrant dance music of the early 20th century: Leoš Janáček’s Lašské tance (Lachian Dances), Béla Bartók’s Suite from “The Miraculous Mandarin” Sz 73, and Igor Stravinsky’s ballet music “Petrushka” (1947 version) will be performed in Seoul (8 November), Taipei (11 November), Shanghai (15 November), Tokyo (19 November) and Yokohama (20 November).
Exchange, education and musical dialogue
In addition to their concert performances, the Berliner Philharmoniker will also continue their successful education and outreach work. Over 30 musicians will be involved in 24 events at the tour stops, bringing music to life as a bridge between cultures, generations and social settings.
The wide-ranging programme includes concerts for nurseries, schools, families and communities, side-by-side projects, masterclasses, pre-concert talks, meet & greets, plus rehearsal and concert visits.
In addition to the concert organisers, other partners include the Goethe Institutes in Korea and Shanghai, El Sistema Japan with the inclusive choir Tokyo Children’s Ensemble, the National Symphony Youth Orchestra Taiwan, and a number of nurseries, schools and universities.
Music for everyone – live and worldwide
The Berliner Philharmoniker concert in Taipei on 13 November will be broadcast live to the square in front of the concert hall. The promoter expects around 20,000 people to attend the public screening on site. Music fans around the world will also be able to watch the concert live (12:45 p.m. CET) in the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Digital Concert Hall (rerun: 15 November at 7 p.m. CET).
The orchestra’s tour blog will feature impressions and videos from the trip: berliner-philharmoniker.de/blog
With their 2025 tour of Asia, the Berliner Philharmoniker and Kirill Petrenko continue their tradition of international concerts – both as musical ambassadors for Germany, and with the aim of generating interest in classical music among people worldwide.