The Staatsoper Unter den Linden and the Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Christian Thielemann, will embark on a tour of Asia in November 2026

Press release of 29 September 2026

From 7 to 24 November 2026, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden will embark on a major opera and concert tour to Shanghai, Kawasaki, Tokyo, Taipei and Kaohsiung, under the musical direction of its General Music Director, Christian Thielemann.

Beethoven Cycle and Der Rosenkavalier in Shanghai

The tour starts in Shanghai. As part of the grand opening celebrations of the Shanghai Grand Opera House, scenic performances of Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier will take place on 8, 10 and 12 November. This marks the first time since 2018 that a scenic opera production by the Staatsoper Unter den Linden has toured internationally. Christian Thielemann conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin; the production was staged in 2020 by the Viennese multi-talented artist André Heller. Leading an outstanding ensemble on stage are Camilla Nylund (the Marschallin), Samantha Hankey (Octavian), Peter Rose (Ochs), Nikola Hillebrand (Sophie) and Roman Trekel (Faninal). The production will be adapted to local conditions for the guest performance in Shanghai.

On 7 and 9 November, Ludwig van Beethoven’s five piano concertos will also be performed at the Shanghai Grand Opera House. Rudolf Buchbinder will take on both the piano part and the role of conductor. The pianist is regarded as one of the leading interpreters of Beethoven and will be performing the entire cycle for the first time with the Staatskapelle Berlin.

From Kawasaki via Tokyo to Taipei

On 15 November, Christian Thielemann will conduct Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467, and Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E flat major, die Romantische, at the MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall. Rudolf Buchbinder will once again be performing as soloist.

On 17 and 18 November, the Staatskapelle Berlin, Christian Thielemann and Camilla Nylund will be performing at Suntory Hall in Tokyo. The programme features Richard Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder and Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64. Another concert in Tokyo will follow on 19 November at the Concert Hall in Tokyo Opera City. Once again, the programme will feature Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4.

The tour then continues to Taiwan. On 21 November, Christian Thielemann, Rudolf Buchbinder and the Staatskapelle Berlin will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 at the National Concert Hall in Taipei. On 22 November, Strauss is on the programme: Camilla Nylund will appear as soloist in Die vier letzten Lieder, followed by Eine Alpensinfonie. On 24 November, the programme at the National Kaohsiung Centre will bring the tour to a close.

With this tour, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, together with the Staatskapelle Berlin, is continuing its long-standing tradition of international guest performances in Asia. As early as 1977, the orchestra, under its then General Music Director Otmar Suitner, was a regular guest in Japan, performing in Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka, amongst other places. From 1997, Daniel Barenboim continued this tradition. Under his baton, the Staatsoper gave opera performances and concerts in Japan, including complete performances of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen and cycles of symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner. In 2016 and 2018, guest performances under Daniel Barenboim also took the Staatskapelle to Shanghai and Beijing. In 2022, Christian Thielemann travelled to Asia with the Staatskapelle Berlin as a stand-in for Daniel Barenboim. With this year’s tour, the orchestra is now building on this most recent trip.

Tickets are available from the respective organisers. For most events, only a few tickets remain.

Click here to visit the website for the Asian tour, which contains all the tour details.

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden would like to thank the Friends and Patrons of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the Board of Trustees of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and its main partner, BMW, for their support.