Punchy Weill and placid Sibelius in Berlin

By Cameron Kelsall, 24 February 2021

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“ably blending the more traditional underlying musical rhythms with inflections of jazz and ragtime”

Reviewed at Philharmonie: Großer Saal, Berlin on 20 February 2021

Prokofiev, The Love for Three Oranges: Symphonic Suite, Op.33bis

Sibelius, Symphony no. 6 in D minor, Op.104

Weill, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny: Suite (arr. Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg)

Berliner Philharmoniker

Thomas Søndergård, Conductor

Kirill Petrenko’s ideal Pulcinella at the Philharmonie Berlin

Elena Luporini, 7th May

In Berlin, Kirill Petrenko conducts Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Gautier Capuçon: an ideal line-up.

****1

Petrenko and Serebrennikov forge a new Ring in Salzburg

Phillip Richter, 1st April

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s much-anticipated return to Salzburg gets off to an impressive musical start. Kirill Serebrennikov’s staging raises numerous questions, but answers few of them.

****1

Kirill Petrenko and the Berliner Philharmoniker in Seoul

SangKwon Lee, 9th November

On their Asian tour, the Berliner Philharmoniker reaffirms its renown in a concert of Schumann and Brahms at the Seoul Arts Center.

*****

Pitch perfect: Petrenko conducts Dusapin, Zimmermann and Brahms

Elena Luporini, 17th September

At this year's Musikfest Berlin, Kirill Petrenko conducts his Berliner Philharmoniker in a devilishly intricate programme.

****1

A place to call our own: Marin Alsop in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 22nd February

For her debut at the head of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Marin Alsop reflects on what a ‘home’ is through works by Tarkiainen, Dean, Copland and Villa-Lobos.

****1

Robertson conducts the German premiere of Srnka's Superorganisms

Elena Luporini, 13th February

At the Philharmonie, David Robertson steps in for Kirill Petrenko for a concert all about the wonders of nature, featuring Varèse, Srnka and Beethoven.

****1

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Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.