Whether you want to experience the Berlin Philharmonic with Respighi and Bruckner, hear Bomsori and Kirill Gerstein as soloists, or enjoy classical tributes in an extraordinary candlelit setting: The final weeks of the year hold many special concert moments in store in Berlin. The program ranges from grand symphonies and virtuosic chamber music to Baroque Christmas melodies and atmospheric Advent evenings. We’ve selected eight classical concerts and events to accompany you musically through the end of the year in November and December 2026.
Jurowski and Gerstein: Works by Rebel, Adès, and Adams
Vladimir Jurowski conducts the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, with pianist Kirill Gerstein as soloist. Works by Jean-Féry Rebel, Thomas Adès, and John Adams bring together music from different eras. The evening thus ranges from Baroque sounds to contemporary American music.
Bomsori Performs Bruch’s Violin Concerto
Violinist Bomsori takes on the solo part in Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto, accompanied by the DSO under the baton of Fabien Gabel. The program also includes music by Grażyna Bacewicz, Albert Roussel, and Maurice Ravel; Bacewicz’s Polish Rhapsody will receive its German premiere. This program brings together a Romantic violin concerto and 20th-century orchestral works.
From November through December, Candlelight Concerts bring music to various venues—such as the French Cathedral, the Meistersaal, and the Funkhaus—bathed in warm candlelight. The programs alternate between classical works, fresh interpretations of pop and film music, and festive Christmas tunes. Depending on the date, you’ll find a wide variety of musical highlights.
Respighi’s “Roman Trilogy” with Kirill Petrenko
Under the baton of Kirill Petrenko, the Philharmonic paints musical pictures of the Italian capital with Respighi’s “Roman Trilogy.” The three tone poems *Fontane di Roma*, *Feste romane*, and *Pini di Roma* are complemented by a *Notturno* by Giuseppe Martucci. Respighi’s colorful orchestration brings Rome’s fountains, festivals, and pine trees to life.
“Heavenly Night”: Baroque Christmas Music with Les Accents
On December 8, the ensemble Les Accents will transport you to the festive sounds of the Baroque era in the Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie. The program includes, among other works, Alessandro Scarlatti’s Christmas cantata and Arcangelo Corelli’s famous Christmas concerto.
Bruckner’s Eighth with Marek Janowski
Marek Janowski will be at the podium when the Berlin Philharmonic performs Anton Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony. This monumental work ranks among the great symphonies of the late Romantic period and unfolds across a wide sonic arc. At the Philharmonie, you can experience Bruckner’s powerful soundscape live.
Berlioz’s “L’Enfance du Christ” with the Berlin Philharmonic
From December 17 to 19, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Berlin Radio Choir will perform Hector Berlioz’s oratorio *L’Enfance du Christ* at the Philharmonie. Under the baton of Maxime Pascal, the work recounts the events following Jesus’ birth—from Herod’s encounter with the Three Wise Men to the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt.
Ring in the New Year with the Berlin Philharmonic
To close out the year, Kirill Petrenko conducts the Berlin Philharmonic, accompanied by pianist Alexander Malofeev and trumpeter David Guerrier. In addition to works by Prokofiev and Shostakovich, the program also features pieces by Richard and Johann Strauss. The concert provides a festive musical conclusion to the year.
