The Glory of Queen

The Music of Queen

The exceptional artist Freddie Mercury died far too early at the age of 45. He celebrated mega successes with his band Queen. Their hits are immortal and continue to inspire young and old with their repertoire of rock, pop, classical, ballads, disco and RnB songs. Thanks to the film »Bohemian Rhapsody« (2018), numerous documentaries and concerts by the exceptional band, Queen remains unforgotten among their huge fan base to this day. The Music of Queen is probably the best and most authentic Queen tribute show currently available. The charismatic frontman Valentin L. Findling and his first-class live band present the world hits of Queen. He embodies Freddie Mercury in a breathtaking and energetic way like no other. He has the voice, the look and the moves. His live band has played with greats such as Earl Harvin, Peter Schilling, Sandy, as support for Eric Clapton, Paul Young, and many more. The songs offer a sweeping tour of the entire Queen repertoire with all the hit classics of the British cult band.

Queen Of Sand

She came with a handful of sand and won the hearts of her audience with her extraordinary talent. Irina Titova is the »Queen of Sand« and knows like no other how to bring the fleetingness of the moment to the screen for a magical moment. She has been captivating audiences since 2018 on her first tour of Germany, taking them on a sensational journey ‘Around the World in 80 Pictures’ and will now finally make many eyes light up in 2025 with a new sand painting show. It’s off to »The fabulous world of film«. The audience accompanies a young man on his exciting journey and immerses itself in the most beautiful and famous film scenes from Hollywood’s dream factory. At breathtaking speed, the Sand Queen creates her images on a glass disc illuminated from below, which are projected onto a screen. Here, the protagonist made of sand meets all the big and small heroes and heroines of our favourite films. He meets the alien E.T., who so desperately wants to phone home, and comforts him with true friendship in his homesickness. He flies across the oceans with the lucky dragon Falkor from »The Neverending Story«, travels with Marty McFly and Doc Brown in the DeLorean »Back to the Future«, hears the famous song in »Casablanca« once again with Ingrid Bergman, and finally eats chocolates on the legendary park bench as Forrest Gump. Accompanied by the unmistakable voice of the internationally renowned German film star Sky Du Mont as narrator and the famous melodies of Hollywood’s most sought-after composers such as Klaus Badelt, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Alan Silvestri and Giorgio Moroder, the talented artist creates an absolutely unique atmosphere every evening. The well-known Austrian actor Alexander Jagsch has been enlisted to direct and write this fabulous journey through the world of film. Between beautiful memories of the unforgettable scenes and the bittersweet melancholy that nothing is permanent, the audience savours the fascination of the moment with every grain of sand.

Matinée of the Friends of the Berliner Philharmoniker e. V. The Queen of instruments

The organ in the Philharmonie, which was built in 1965 by the Schuke organ builders, is one of the most important concert hall organs in the world, with its 6,500 pipes and 90 stops. It is not only heard in symphonic repertoire, in works such as Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra, but also in the popular series of organ matinées presented by internationally acclaimed virtuosos. This instrument is one of the Friends’ most important projects: they financed a complete refurbishment between 2010 and 2012. During the past season, however, the electronic system, with which the various stops are called up in a matter of seconds, refused to do its job. Since entire key segments failed and the instrument could no longer be used, a renovation was urgently needed: it will be carried out during the summer break in 2023 and again financed by the Friends. At this organ matinée, we would like to present the “queen of instruments” with its new brilliance and sound – and offer you an exciting look at what goes on inside.

Family Concert “Queen of Christmas”

In this series, the Berliner Philharmoniker and guests spark enthusiasm for classical music and take a closer look at the art of composing. In moderated concerts, they demonstrate the sound colours of the instruments or show how nature can sound. In our Queen of Christmas special with horn player Sarah Willis and her colleagues, it gets turbulent and enchanting – Sebastian Heindl provides support on the organ.

Family Concert “Queen of Christmas”

In this series, the Berliner Philharmoniker and guests spark enthusiasm for classical music and take a closer look at the art of composing. In moderated concerts, they demonstrate the sound colours of the instruments or show how nature can sound. In our Queen of Christmas special with horn player Sarah Willis and her colleagues, it gets turbulent and enchanting – Sebastian Heindl provides support on the organ.

Pikowaja Dama - Queen of Spades

About the work THE QUEEN OF SPADES, Tchaikovsky’s second most popular opera after EUGENE ONEGIN, delights audiences due to its sheer scale, among other qualities. The mood switches effortlessly from full chorus and ensemble to delicate chamber scenes. Sophisticated leisured society rubs up against indigent proletariat. Pushkin’s novella was used by Pyotr and Modest Tchaikovsky as the springboard into a psychogram of the two main protagonists Herman and Lisa, who are bound by their star-crossed despair and thwarted desire to express themselves freely. Herman serves the homosexual Tchaikovsky brothers not only as a touchstone in his capacity as social outcast; his profession as military engineer is also a reference to their father, Ilya Petrovich Tchaikovsky. Herman, an officer fascinated by the secrets of the gambling community, is in love with Lisa, a lady of gentle birth. Lisa yearns for self-determination but still lives under the thumb of her grandmother, the Countess, who, besides having stirred up Parisian high society in her youth, is also reputed to be the holder of a secret strategy for winning at cards. When Herman hears the rumour, he is sure that he has found a way out of his misery. His fixation on the mystery of the Three Cards takes its course. About the production Director Sam Brown makes his debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. His set design - heavily informed by that of his friend and director colleague Sir Graham Vick, who died tragically in 2021 – accentuates the nuances and ambiguities of the work’s dramatic storyline. His approach deliberately poses questions that are meant to remain unanswered. Does Herman love Lisa or is she just the means to an end? Is Lisa a helpless victim or does she just think Herman can help her escape her golden cage? Is there really a secret key to success at cards or is it just a figment of Herman’s imagination?

Pikowaja Dama - Queen of Spades

About the work THE QUEEN OF SPADES, Tchaikovsky’s second most popular opera after EUGENE ONEGIN, delights audiences due to its sheer scale, among other qualities. The mood switches effortlessly from full chorus and ensemble to delicate chamber scenes. Sophisticated leisured society rubs up against indigent proletariat. Pushkin’s novella was used by Pyotr and Modest Tchaikovsky as the springboard into a psychogram of the two main protagonists Herman and Lisa, who are bound by their star-crossed despair and thwarted desire to express themselves freely. Herman serves the homosexual Tchaikovsky brothers not only as a touchstone in his capacity as social outcast; his profession as military engineer is also a reference to their father, Ilya Petrovich Tchaikovsky. Herman, an officer fascinated by the secrets of the gambling community, is in love with Lisa, a lady of gentle birth. Lisa yearns for self-determination but still lives under the thumb of her grandmother, the Countess, who, besides having stirred up Parisian high society in her youth, is also reputed to be the holder of a secret strategy for winning at cards. When Herman hears the rumour, he is sure that he has found a way out of his misery. His fixation on the mystery of the Three Cards takes its course. About the production Director Sam Brown makes his debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. His set design - heavily informed by that of his friend and director colleague Sir Graham Vick, who died tragically in 2021 – accentuates the nuances and ambiguities of the work’s dramatic storyline. His approach deliberately poses questions that are meant to remain unanswered. Does Herman love Lisa or is she just the means to an end? Is Lisa a helpless victim or does she just think Herman can help her escape her golden cage? Is there really a secret key to success at cards or is it just a figment of Herman’s imagination?

Pikowaja Dama - Queen of Spades

About the work THE QUEEN OF SPADES, Tchaikovsky’s second most popular opera after EUGENE ONEGIN, delights audiences due to its sheer scale, among other qualities. The mood switches effortlessly from full chorus and ensemble to delicate chamber scenes. Sophisticated leisured society rubs up against indigent proletariat. Pushkin’s novella was used by Pyotr and Modest Tchaikovsky as the springboard into a psychogram of the two main protagonists Herman and Lisa, who are bound by their star-crossed despair and thwarted desire to express themselves freely. Herman serves the homosexual Tchaikovsky brothers not only as a touchstone in his capacity as social outcast; his profession as military engineer is also a reference to their father, Ilya Petrovich Tchaikovsky. Herman, an officer fascinated by the secrets of the gambling community, is in love with Lisa, a lady of gentle birth. Lisa yearns for self-determination but still lives under the thumb of her grandmother, the Countess, who, besides having stirred up Parisian high society in her youth, is also reputed to be the holder of a secret strategy for winning at cards. When Herman hears the rumour, he is sure that he has found a way out of his misery. His fixation on the mystery of the Three Cards takes its course. About the production Director Sam Brown makes his debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. His set design - heavily informed by that of his friend and director colleague Sir Graham Vick, who died tragically in 2021 – accentuates the nuances and ambiguities of the work’s dramatic storyline. His approach deliberately poses questions that are meant to remain unanswered. Does Herman love Lisa or is she just the means to an end? Is Lisa a helpless victim or does she just think Herman can help her escape her golden cage? Is there really a secret key to success at cards or is it just a figment of Herman’s imagination?

Queen Symphonic Tribute

The power of brass, the might of the manuals

Although the organ is traditionally associated with sacred music and grand concerts, it can also be a fascinating complement to less typical chamber settings. The untypical combinations in this year’s organ concert series provide unique sounds and new, unexpected combinations. The result? We become more open to new interpretational possibilities and free experimenting. The programme of the concert, including pieces by Petr Eben, Otto Hoser, Thierry Escaich and Craig Phillips, shows how well the organ can sound paired with brass instruments and percussion. Hear it for yourselves: a fascinating richness of new possibilities! [Alexandra Kozowicz] Concert duration: approximately 50 minutes