NEW YORK – Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic will be on the move.
A renovation is planned for the Philharmonie, its home since 1963, and is likely to displace the orchestra from 2032-40.
“It’s a huge challenge to have a different stage for us because the Philharmonie has this unique sound,” Petrenko, the orchestra’s chief conductor, said during a recent Zoom news conference ahead of four U.S. concerts and its first South American tour in a quarter century. “It’s really a very difficult time.”
The Berlin Philharmonic is considered one of the best orchestras in the world. It performs in a specially designed 2,410-seat hall where the acoustics are tailored for its unique sound. This hall was created by architect Hans Scharoun, and the layout features terraced seating that enhances the listening experience.
To accommodate the renovation, the orchestra is considering a temporary facility in hangars at Tempelhof Airport, which was closed in 2008. The total cost for the renovation and the makeshift hall is projected to be around 1.15 billion euros (approximately $1.28 billion), with the German federal government already pledging 225 million euros ($251 million) to support the project.
Plans are to relocate after celebrating the orchestra’s 150th anniversary in the first half of 2032. Petrenko emphasized the importance of finding a venue that can provide the right acoustics for the orchestra, saying, “First of all, we need to find the venue and build the right acoustic for us, for our big orchestra.”
The Berlin Philharmonic has had only five chief conductors in the last seven decades, with Petrenko taking the role for the 2019-20 season. He follows in the footsteps of legendary conductors like Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, and Simon Rattle.
Recently, the Berlin Philharmonic opened the season at Carnegie Hall, marking its 26th visit to the U.S. since 1955. This trip also includes performances in Bogotá, Colombia, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, during its first South American tour in 23 years.
With over 45,000 active subscribers to its Digital Concert Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic has built a global audience. Unlike the Vienna Philharmonic, which does not have a permanent music director, the Berlin Philharmonic is led by a single conductor with a distinct vision.
Andrea Zietzschmann, the orchestra’s general manager since 2017, noted how each chief conductor has left their mark on the orchestra. Petrenko himself is influenced by the traditions of his predecessors, saying, “I don’t feel any fear” about comparisons with Karajan. He respects the legacy but is focused on how the orchestra should sound today.
Petrenko, born in 1972 in Omsk, Russia, moved to Austria at 18. His career includes conducting at various prestigious venues, including the Vienna Volksoper and the Bavarian State Opera. He has a unique ability to distinguish sounds from his famous predecessors when listening to recordings of the Berlin Philharmonic.
He encourages musicians to strive for perfection in their sound, inspiring them to push their boundaries. Noah Bendix-Balgley, a concertmaster, remarked on Petrenko’s drive, stating, “There’s never sort of a point where he says, ‘OK. We’ve got it.’ And that’s really inspiring.”
