Orchestra - Deutsche Oper Berlin
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The concert season
Symphony concerts, Chamber music, Jazz
As people who work at an opera house, we devote our energy and enthusiasm every day to telling stories through music and theatre. And yet each of us has a second passion: making pure music time and again, whether in chamber concerts or ‘Jazz & Lyrics’ performances, or on the main stage and in the Philharmonie, where our orchestra and big band perform... We look forward to seeing you there. Axel Schlicksupp (Orchestra Director)
Welcome
16 September 2025 | Berlin Music Festival | Philharmonie
Das Lied von der Erde
Gustav Mahler described his ‘Song of the Earth’, which was not premiered until 1911 after his death, as the most personal work he ever wrote. Antonello Manacorda precedes the symphonic song cycle in his concert with the orchestral piece ‘Blossoming II’ by the multi-award-winning Toshio Hosokawa. With Okka von der Damerau and David Butt Philip.
10 February 2026 | Philharmonie
Gurrelieder
In the ‘Gurre-Lieder’, Schönberg follows in the footsteps of Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss, combining all the musical influences of late Romanticism into an almost two-hour opus that is both a high point of that artistic era and, at the same time, its end. Conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles with David Butt Philip, Felicia Moore, Annika Schlicht, Thomas Blondelle, Thomas Lehman, the Rundfunkchor, Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Chamber music in the Tischlerei
Tischlereikonzerte
The selection of works and the dramaturgical conception of the Tischlereikonzerte are in the hands of the musicians of the orchestra. They are inspired by the new productions or revivals of the opera programme to create stimulating themes and unusual programmes that are unparalleled in their musical range in Berlin.
Chamber Music I - 3 November 2025
Spotlights
This season, an extraordinary and personal programme entitled ‘Spotlights’ will once again be presented: musicians of the orchestra will perform works that are particularly close to their hearts. The programme ranges from world-famous pieces from the chamber music repertoire to genuine rarities that are seldom heard in concert halls. Enjoy favourite pieces, rarities and evergreens.
Chamber Music II - 17 December 2025
Guilty pleasures: A night of cheesy music
Even in classical music, there are works that border on kitsch. Our musicians and soloists from the ensemble present music for the heart and soul, including pieces by Rachmaninov, Dvorak and Edith Piaf. A word of advice: don't forget your handkerchiefs!
Chamber Music III - 24 January 2026
How does something new come into the world?
This chamber music concert focuses on upheavals and new beginnings in music: everything new develops from something that has gone before. But where and how exactly does it begin? Are there specific markers along the way? We embark on a search for clues in the works of Carlo Gesualdo, Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner and John Cage.
Chamber Music special - 8 October 2025
Against forgetfulness
In a moving fusion of words, images and sound, orchestra musicians commemorate former employees of our opera house who were expelled by the National Socialists from 1933 onwards. Between the works, Margarita Broich reads from personal documents belonging to Rudolf Bing, Edgar Frank, Nelly Hirth and Else Liebert.
Chamber Music IV - 16 March 2026
Where the lemons bloom – Italy, a place of yearning
Italy, the cradle of opera, was the cultural centre of Europe for centuries. The most famous instrumentalists and composers were educated here, and European writers travelled here to overcome their writer's block. We juxtapose original Italian music with music inspired by cultural exchange and read from Goethe's ‘Italian Journey’. Listen to works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Antonio Vivaldi and Isabella Leonarda.
Chamber Music V - 13 May 2026
The sound of the forest – bringing nature to life
Composers throughout the centuries have expressed their relationship with nature and its creatures in music. How do we listen to this music today, in times of climate crisis and mass extinction, and how do younger composers address this topic? Listen to works by Sofia Asgatovna Gubaidulina, Franz Schubert, Olivier Messiaen and Kaija Saariaho.
Chamber Music VI - 11 June 2026
Crossbones
In order to make a living from composing, composers very often had to submit to the ideas of their principals, write commissioned works, and fulfil stylistic or casting requirements. Some, however, did not like this and resisted in their own way. In the last chamber music concert of the 2025/26 season, our academics present works by musical personalities who broke the mould: Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dmitri Shostakovich.
Jazz, Jazz, Jazz
The Deutsche Oper Berlin Big Band and its “little sister”, the JazzCombo, have long since established their own tradition at the opera house. In addition to the established Jazz & Lyrics series in the Tischlerei, you can enjoy two major concerts: the 20th anniversary concert in the Philharmonie and the traditional New Year's Concert in the Main Auditorium.
20 September 2025 | Berlin Music Festival at the Philharmonie
Jazz de Paris
The BigBand celebrates its 20th anniversary and dedicates itself to French jazz. During the German occupation, it stood for freedom and resistance, and in the post-war period it became the soundtrack of existentialism and an expression of the attitude towards life of an entire generation. Conducted by Manfred Honetschläger with Biréli Lagrène, Thomas Pigor and Mathilde Vendramin.
1 January 2026 | The New Year's Jazz Gala
Swingin` 26
Celebrate 2026 with renowned jazz stars and versatile ensemble members and start the new year in good spirits under the baton of Manfred Honetschläger.
Jazz & Lyrics I - 5, 6 December 2025
Christmas in Jazz
An evening of Christmas traditions and music from all over the world: The Famous Christmas Swingers perform Christmas carols and Christmas standards under the direction of Christian Meyers.
Jazz & Lyrics II - 28 February, 1 March 2026
100 Miles Ahead
Under the direction of Martin Auer, our Big Band musicians celebrate the 100th birthday of Miles Davis.
Jazz & Lyrics III - 11, 12 April 2026
Hymn to Freedom
Listen to important speeches on freedom and famous songs performed by the Freedom Jazzband under the direction of Wolfgang Köhler.
Jazz & Lyrics IV – 8, 9 July 2026
Sheherazade
The Wilde Jazzorchester and its conductor Martin Auer transform the stories of 1001 Nights into jazz fairy tales. They will be presenting their latest narrative concert live on these two dates.
To the video archive Skip video container ![Digital Instrument Presentation: The Percussions]( "Digital Instrument Presentation: The Percussions")
![Digital Instrument Presentation: The Tuba]( "Digital Instrument Presentation: The Tuba")
![Digital Instrument Presentation: The Harp]( "Digital Instrument Presentation: The Harp")
![Digital Instrument Presentation: The Oboe]( "Digital Instrument Presentation: The Oboe")
![Digital Instrument Presentation: The Violoncello]( "Digital Instrument Presentation: The Violoncello")
![Digital Instrument Presentation: The Trumpet]( "Digital Instrument Presentation: The Trumpet")
Our video recommendations
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Percussions
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Tuba
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Harp
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Oboe
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Violoncello
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Trumpet
video - 14:13 min.
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Percussions ...
video - 12:46 min.
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Tuba ...
video - 15:37 min.
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Harp ...
video - 10:35 min.
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Oboe ...
video - 13:25 min.
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Violoncello ...
video - 09:28 min.
Digital Instrument Presentation: The Trumpet ...
Topics
Since 2009 our General Music Director
Sir Donald Runnicles
The musicians are together
The Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin
