Saariaho’s Notes on Light receives its Berlin premiere

By Elena Luporini, 01 May 2026

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“Karttunen made lyrical what might sound like an experiment in endurance for any string player”

Reviewed at Philharmonie: Großer Saal, Berlin on 29 April 2026

Sibelius, En Saga, a symphonic poem for orchestra, Op.9

Saariaho, Notes on light, violoncello concerto

Dvořák, Symphony no. 8 in G major, Op.88

Sakari Oramo, Conductor

Anssi Karttunen, Cello

Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Vibrant Brahms from Jurowski, Chen and the Berlin RSO in Seoul

SangKwon Lee, 3rd May

At the Seoul Arts Center, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra achieves a luminous balance of historically informed insight and modern orchestral splendour, delivering performances that feel at once deeply rooted and thrillingly alive.

****1

A searing Shostakovich 8 from Jurowski and the Berlin Radio Symphony

Alexander Hall, 4th May

One of the glories of the German musical landscape are its radio orchestras. Up there with the finest, Vladimir Jurowski’s Berliners impress in Martinů and Shostakovich, while Christian Tetzlaff forays into Suk.

*****

Old and new from Vladimir Jurowski and the Berlin RSO

Dominic Lowe, 31st August

Typically interesting programming from Jurowski gave us the Proms premiere of Adès’ Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, combined with saucy Weill and forcefully modern Rachmaninov.

****1

Vladimir Jurowski conducts the Berlin RSO with panache

Edward Sava-Segal, 5th May

Celebrating its centenary the orchestra and its chief conductor proposed a programme consisting of works (mostly) composed in the last 100 years.

****1

Vladimir Jurowski holds all the aces at Berlin's Konzerthaus

Elena Luporini, 10th December

Jurowski and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra give the Konzerthaus a night to remember with pungent renditions of Goldmann, Weill and Stravinsky's Jeu de cartes.

*****

Remarkable Die Frau ohne Schatten marred by visual effects

Edward Sava-Segal, 4th September

At the Enescu Festival n Bucharest Vladimir Jurowski celebrates the centennial of Die Frau one Schatten’s premiere.

****1

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Elena Luporini

After completing their Master's degree in Musicology in Rome, Elena has now moved to Berlin to dedicate themselves to more things musical. With a publication on Béla Bartók and a seminar at the Humboldt-Universität underway, their interests mostly veer toward 20th-century opera, with some forays into queer musicology. Some of their latest undertakings also include oboe lessons, stencil-making and tea-making.

A light-year away: Saariaho’s concerto Notes on Light receives its Berlin premiere