Season 2013/2014

First Nights

The following pages provide an overview of events in which the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin shows its true face. Our programme of symphonic performances and the chamber music concerts scheduled have one thing in common – as a member of the audience you will be able to see the musicians as well as hear them. The players are particular keen to have this direct contact with audiences, which is why these evenings of symphonic concerts and also the chamber music events in the Tischlerei are such a pleasure for me and the musicians. We look forward months in advance to performing the selected pieces.

Maybe you share my enthusiasm. Listening to the strains of the Orchestra in the amazing acoustics of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, I yearn to hear not only Wagner being played but also Brahms and Mahler. This is why this season we are continuing our cycle of Brahms symphonies with performances of the remaining three symphonies. The evening of the second symphony will include orchestra lieder from Mahler's “The Youth's Magic Horn”, an opportunity to savour the talents of two of our house's great singers – Markus Brück and Clémentine Margaine.

I and the Orchestra are delighted to have been invited to give a concert at the Berlin Festival of Music. To be part of a festival featuring some of the best orchestras in the world is not only quite an accolade for us but also a a pleasant challenge. I would also like to make special mention of the chamber concerts in the Tischlerei, our new performance venue. The Orchestra musicians have drawn up six programmes of music for this set of events, which occupies the slot previously taken for many years by “Sounds of the World”. The programmes reveal our passion for music making as a group – from the very first concert, “Get Angry”, to “Britten dances”. Of particular interest is also the “Spotlights” concert which presents works of personal significance to the musicians themselves.

I hope this prospectus sparks your curiosity and I very much hope to see you in the opera house at some point.

Donald Runnicles