Symphoniekonzert IV of the Staatskapelle Berlin
Symphony Concert IV on 26 and 27 January 2026 will feature Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) – a work that has been a fixture in the international concert repertoire of orchestras and choirs since its creation in the 1860s. Under the musical direction of Christian Thielemann, the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Staatsopernchor, rehearsed by Dani Juris, and the two soloists Nikola Hillebrand (soprano) and Samuel Hasselhorn (baritone) will perform.
For Christian Thielemann, this concert marks his first major collaboration with the Staatsopernchor in the symphonic repertoire and at the same time the continuation of his intensive engagement with the works of Johannes Brahms. Just a few months ago, in June 2025, he conducted the Staatskapelle in performances of Symphonies Nos. 3 and 1 as part of the “Staatsoper für alle” open-air series on Bebelplatz. Now comes the composer’s central choral symphonic work, performed in concerts at the Staatsoper and the Philharmonie. In the German Requiem, Thielemann focuses on the structural clarity of the score and a balanced tonal interplay between choir, solo voices and orchestra. This continues and deepens the Staatskapelle Berlin's decades-long engagement with the works of Johannes Brahms.
With his German Requiem, Johannes Brahms found his own musical voice and expression. Drawing on his close examination of the words of the Bible and in the spirit of Romanticism, he created a highly impressive choral-orchestral work that builds on musical traditions from the Baroque and Classical periods while also opening up new perspectives. The artful combination of vocal and instrumental parts forms a coherent whole, marked by numerous expressive moments for choir, orchestra and soloists.
On 24 January 2026, people under the age of 30 will also have the opportunity to experience the work during a public dress rehearsal. In a relaxed atmosphere, this rehearsal offers an exclusive insight into Christian Thielemann's work with the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Staatsoper choir and the soloists – an invitation to discover great choral symphonic music up close and to witness the creative process behind a concert evening.
The Staatsoper would like to express its sincere gratitude to the friends and patrons of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and its main partners, BMW and the Hilti Foundation, for their support.