Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Chamber Music Hall Berlin

Last night I attended a Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performance at  Chamber Music Hall in Mitte District. There were several transportation choices for getting there from my apartment in Kreuzberg. U-Bahn wasn’t one of them. At night, I’m more confident taking U-Bahn, but am a bit leery of walking between connection stations. Since I plan to attend many concerts in Berlin, this first visit to Chamber Music Hall was a learning experience.

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“The Philharmonie Berlin has been the musical heart of Berlin since 1963. Still at the periphery of West Berlin when it opened, it became part of the new urban centre after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Its unusual tent-like shape and distinctive bright yellow colour makes it one of the city’s landmarks.”  Philharmonie Berlin

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Getting to the Philharmonic Concert Hall

After considering the options, I took the M41 bus to Potsdamer Platz and walked about 10 minutes to the concert hall. It worked out well, even though I initially went in the wrong direction :o( but figured it out and changed course. Passengers on the bus were helpful, and I learned from my mistake. Berlin taxis are expensive, and I’m not sure if they’re safe. Since I’ll be in Berlin for awhile, it’s important to get comfortable riding buses and trams as well as the U-Bahn. From what I’ve seen of local traffic, doubt I’ll be renting a car and driving.

I’ve been looking forward to the concert after hearing praise for Berlin’s exceptional world-renowned symphony orchestra. Many consider Berliner Philharmoniker the “world’s greatest orchestra“. Not surprisingly, the performance was sold out. Paavo Järvi conducted works by Witold Lutosławski and Johannes Brahms. The modern concert hall is a theatre-in-the round with stellar acoustics. I had a balcony side seat facing the conductor – a perfect vantage point for viewing the full orchestra in action.

Witold Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra

Polish composer Witold Lutosławsk’s Concerto for Orchestra is “one of the top Polish works of Social Realism“. It’s described as a “rousing concerto for orchestra, combining the harsh force of Polish folk music with ingenious, futuristic construction”.

The Concerto has three movements beginning with a solemn introduction featuring “transformed tunes of folk songs“. Critics characterize the second movement as a “syncopated folk tune”. The finale is the longest movement and has a “dramatic effect through the rise of the sound volume from pianissimo to fortissimo“. It’s a dramatic abstract composition!

Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major

German composer Johannes Brahms’ Second Symphony was a sharp contrast to Lutoslawski’s more avantgarde composition. He created the symphony during a holiday on Lake Wörthersee, a glacial lake in the Starnberg district of Bavaria. Some think Brahms got his inspiration for this symphony from folklore – the legend of the Origin of Lake Wörthersee.

Critics describe Symphony No. 2 as having a “pastoral, serenade-like quality with moments of somber severity”. It’s considered the Brahms Symphony “most suitable for a chamber version with expressive solos and transparent textures”. The magnificent soloist performances were flawless!

The symphony has four movements, allegro non troppo, adagio non troppo, allegretto grazioso, and allegro con spirito. The rousing finale was spectacular and brought the audience to their feet.

Paavo Järvi Conductor

Paavo Järvi is Artistic Director of Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Together with the Berlin Symphony, he’s produced popular recordings of works by Johannes Brahms, Igor Stravinsky, Richard Strauss, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Robert Schumann. Järvi is an impressive and masterful conductor!

Paavo Järvi’s Conducting Career and Awards

Järvi’s career began in 1995 as conductor of Stockholm’s Kungliga Filharmoniska Orkestern. Career landmarks include positions with the Cincinnati Symphony and the Frankfurt HR Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his position with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, he’s artistic advisor to the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and Järvi Summer Festival in Pärnu, Estonia.

Järvi was awarded the 2010 ECHO Klassik as Conductor of the Year for his Beethoven interpretation – considered his greatest success. “The CDs of Beethoven’s nine symphonies and the performances of the complete Beethoven cycle in Tokyo, Yokohama, Lanaudière Quebec, Paris, Strasbourg, Montreal, Bonn, Salzburg, Warsaw, and Sao Paulo sparked a wave of enthusiasm.”

Following the Beethoven project, “Järvi and his orchestra worked on the symphonic works of German composer Robert Schumann“. The third CD with Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 and the Concert Piece for 4 Horns was awarded the prestigious French Music Prize, the Diapason d’Or. Then, he focused on the complete Brahms Symphony Cycle and won Germany’s Opus Klassik Award in the category “Symphonic Recording of the Year (music of the 19th century)”.

Beginning with the 2019/20 season Järvi will become the new Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He’s a mesmerizing figure and phenomenal conductor!

The magnificent Brahms piece was my favorite. The audience wasn’t shy about acknowledging the talented musicians and conductor with raucously enthusiastic applause. It was a thrilling performance and made for a very memorable evening in Berlin!