United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann hosted a reception for the Orchestra at her official residence. Concertmaster David Kim greets former Assistant Conductor Erina Yashima, who is now the First Kapellmeister at the Komische Oper Berlin. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc., President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky thanks Ambassador Gutmann (center) for her gracious hospitality. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Violinist Lisa Batiashvili, one of the soloists on the tour, performs for the guests with her accompanist, Nikoloz Rachveli. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Singers from Ukraine also performed at the reception. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Ambassador Gutmann poses with Matías Tarnopolsky, Concertmaster David Kim, and Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
The iconic Brandenburg Gate at twilight. Constructed between 1788 and 1791, it was inspired by the monumental gateway at the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. Heavily damaged in World War II, it remained standing and was restored by the governments of both East and West Berlin. When the Berlin Wall went up in 1961, the Gate stood in an exclusion zone in an arc of the Wall, inaccessible to all. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Instrument trunks are loaded into the Berlin Philharmonie for the evening’s performance. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Associate Principal Cello Priscilla Lee, violist Burchard Tang, and their daughters at a section of the old Berlin Wall. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales shows her daughter and niece where to meet outside the concert hall following the performance. Many musicians of the Orchestra travel with their children and it is a joy for everyone to get to know them and watch them grow over the years. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
The concert was livestreamed for free on the Berlin Philharmonic’s Digital Concert Hall platform. Personnel backstage make sure everything is in order during the sound check. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Conducting Fellow Tristan Rais-Sherman confer during the sound check. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
There was only a short period between the sound check and the concert, so musicians were provided dinner at the hall. Violinist Yu-Ting Chen, violist Rachel Ku, and violist Meng Wang enjoy their meal. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Three of the newest members of the Orchestra are ready to begin the concert: (l to r) bass player Christian Gray, bass player Michael Franz, and Associate Principal Bass Gabriel Polinsky. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Senior Director of Orchestra Personnel and Tour Residencies Marilyn Rife meets up with her cousin, Geoffrey Samuels, at the Philharmonie. Geoffrey lives in Berlin and this was a rare opportunity for them to see each other.
The Philharmonie is one of Berlin’s most distinctive buildings and glows in the late afternoon sun. It was designed by Hans Scharoun and built between 1961 and 1963. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Yannick and the Orchestra open the program with Dvořák’s Carnival Overture, an appropriately rousing work. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Violinist Mei Ching Huang stepped in to save the day, playing the celesta part in Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto (shown here with Orchestra pianist/celesta player Kiyoko Takeuti), after the other keyboard players on tour came down with COVID. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
The orchestration of the Szymanowski Concerto requires two harps: Principal Harp Elizabeth Hainen (right) and harp substitute Héloïse Carlean-Jones. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Lisa Batiashvili was the soloist in the Szymanowski. She has called the piece “the most delicious thing in the world.” Photo by Todd Rosenberg
The horn section gets to shine during the Szymanowski. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Lisa and Yannick return to the stage to perform an encore for the very enthusiastic audience: Debussy’s “Beau Soir.” Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Ambassador Amy Gutmann poses with Lisa, Yannick, and Matías Tarnopolsky backstage during intermission. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Yannick’s parents and husband, Pierre, are accompanying him on the tour. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
The second half of the concert featured Florence Price’s First Symphony, in its Berlin premiere. Yannick walks off the stage following the performance, which received a standing ovation from the packed hall. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
The entire Orchestra stands to acknowledge the rousing applause. The audience was treated to two encores: Florence Price’s Adoration and Brahms’s Hungarian Dance No. 21. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Immediately following the concert, the tour party boarded buses for the next stop on the tour, Dresden. The 120-mile trip went quickly for some, who relaxed with some beers and a friendly poker game. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.