Berlin Philharmonic intent on building strong bonds with its global audience

Today’s technology makes it possible for anyone anywhere with internet access to experience videos, recordings and live broadcasts of the Berlin Philharmonic, one of the world’s most esteemed symphony orchestras, on multiple platforms via the ensemble’s Digital Concert Hall.

But as much as the Philharmonic values these technological links with its audience, it does not believe they can ever replace the experience of hearing the orchestra live and in person. And that’s why touring remains so essential.

“We are convinced that touring is really important, because we want first to meet our audiences,” said Andrea Zietzschmann, the orchestra’s general manager, during an online press conference earlier this month. “I think it is really important that you exchange with other countries. Wherever we go, we try not to only play one concert, but we try to leave a footprint and really build these relationships over years, and I think that is what we have accomplished in the U.S.”

The Berlin Philharmonic has traveled to the United States 24 times since 1955, when it toured the country in February-April with its famed principal conductor Herbert von Karajan, stopping in Chicago for March 13-15 concerts.

The orchestra has returned to this country for an eight-concert tour that began Nov. 15 with a stop at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and includes a three-day residency at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Its itinerary will conclude Nov. 26 in Chicago, with a concert as part of the Symphony Center Presents Orchestras series (SCP is the presenting arm of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association).

“It’s the 25th tour to the United States, which I think is quite impressive,” Zietzschmann said. “The Berliner Philharmoniker is an important German ambassador for the arts, for the music, and it has touring activities in Europe, Asia and the United States. We don’t have so many weeks to tour, so it’s great that we can come to the United States after two years already.”

This American tour is the second under the leadership of Kirill Petrenko, who took over as chief conductor and artistic director in 2019-20 after making his guest-conducting debut in 2006 and returning regularly to the orchestra subsequently. The Siberian-born conductor served as general music director of German’s Bayerische Staatsoper in 2013-20.

“I’m completely excited about this,” Petrenko said of the tour. “I remember very much the appreciation for our concerts last time in different cities. In between, our relationship has become deeper, and we have worked very intensively together, and the atmosphere in the concerts and rehearsals is really great.”

The orchestra’s last U.S. visit came in 2022 after a break of six years and after the world reopened following the COVID-19 shutdown. “I think the last tour was a great joy for everybody and a great success,” Zietzschmann said, “especially because it was the first tour with our new chief conductor. We all have strong memories of embarking on a big tour after this really terrible coronavirus period.”

Zietzschmann noted that the orchestra has many connections to the United States, including five American members among the 34 nationalities represented on the Berlin Phil’s roster. In addition, 14 other members studied in the United States at schools such as the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

These ties and others that have developed through encounters at international music festivals add to the excitement that the musicians feel about this tour, said Stefan Dohr, the Berlin Phil’s principal horn. “There are a lot of personal friendships, and we are looking forward to meeting people again,” he said.

In addition to Berlin’s main orchestral concerts, 40 Berlin Philharmonic musicians will engage in a range of additional educational and community activities during their American stay. These include a concert at the Woods Mullen Shelter for Women in Boston in cooperation with Shelter Music Boston and workshops for music students at LaGuardia High School in New York City.

“That’s really important to us,” Zietzschmann said, “to not only reach our audience with our concerts but also to connect with the communities and really build relationships. I think it is a great set of events.”