Pierre Boulez Saal

What’s On in May, Part 2 ➡️ The season is drawing to a close—but the remaining concerts still offer a wide range of music and many discoveries. Swipe through to see what's happening in the second part of this month!

Bravo and thank you, @uchidamitsuko ! 👏✨ A captivating solo recital at the @boulezsaal met with standing ovations. The celebrated pianist returned to our hall with a program centered around Franz Schubert’s iconic G-major Sonata of 1826, which she juxtaposed with music by Beethoven, Mozart, Webern, and Kurtág. 📸: @jakobtillmann

Echoes across Time and Space. South African artists Kathleen Tagg, Gareth Lubbe, and Dizu Plaatjies brought a world-premiere project to the @boulezsaal that bridges the diverse traditions of their homeland. “We are so grateful to all of you for joining us as we explore identities and emotions through sound. The original material carries memories, feelings, and the love of those far away or no longer with us, and blends it with the joy of being here, making music, and sharing this experience.” —Kathleen Tagg, Gareth Lubbe, Dizu Plaatjies @dizu_plaatjies Uhadi, Umrhubhe, Mbira, Umtshingo, Kudu horn, Nyanga pan pipes, Percussion, Voice @kathleentagg Piano, Curator, Arrangements Gareth Lubbe Violin, Viola, Voice 📸: @jakobtillmann

Exploring each other’s sound worlds 🔊 Ahead of tomorrow’s concert, the three artists behind this extraordinary program take us through their instruments, musical traditions, and shared curiosity—offering a glimpse into a sound world where Southern African traditions, improvisation, and contemporary sonic exploration meet. ➡️ Swipe to follow along: from a musical excerpt of the program, to Kathleen Tagg introducing the project, to Dizu Plaatjies showing us the sounds of the Uhadi, to Gareth Lubbe demonstrating overtone singing, and further into the piano, wind instruments, and the Mbira. 📆 Tomorrow! Sat, May 9, 7 pm @kathleentagg @dizu_plaatjies

El viaje continúa 🪭 In its latest stop, the Journey of Instruments arrived in Europe, with Spanish guitarist Carlos Piñana and ensemble bringing a program shaped by the rhythms and colors of flamenco. @carlospi ñana Guitar @rainermarianero_music Guitar Miguel Ángel Orengo Percussion Guillermo Ramos & @mamennbanos Flamenco Dancers 📺 In a few days, you can (re)watch the full performance online thanks to our collaboration with rbb and ARTE. Stay tuned! 📸 @jakobtillmann

Still coming down from my solo show debut Journey to Softness at the Boulez Saal. Was it already two weeks ago? There were times I thought I would never make it to the stage. Thank you to everyone who showed up and gave me the energy to pull through until the last note. Hearing all of your impressions after the show has made me so full, if you haven’t already — please do share them with me 💙 there is still a long way to go and there will be a Journey # 2 somewhere.. sometime.. Journey to Softness • Pierre Boulez Saal x TRAUMA • April 25, 2026 scriabin • ligeti • ravel • beethoven • radiohead and more Kunal Lahiry - Concept, Piano @kunal.lahiry Rubén Nsue - Movement @rubenmbese Nadia Marcus - Poetry @nadia.d.marcus Emilio Checa - Lighting and Sound Design @emilio.cordero.checa Troels Primdahl - Stage Direction @troels_primdahl Co-production by @traumaisforever and @boulezsaal Videography and edit by @mitaelgrande with special thanks to @lousavoir #berlinmusic #piano #classicalmusic

It is with heavy hearts that we learned the news of the passing of soprano Khayakazi Madlala. Last August, during our Song Week in South Africa, we had the privilege of witnessing Khayakazi’s immense talent and her generous spirit. Together with Golda Schultz, Jonathan Ware and all participants of the Song Week, the Pierre Boulez Saal sends its deepest condolences to her family, her loved ones, and our friends at Cape Town Opera. Her music and her light will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, Khayakazi. 🕊️ Photo: @vittoriogrec , Song Week South Africa 2025

💬 “Many percussionists specialize. We work differently, with a very broad range, because what we really enjoy is not to start with specific instruments, but with compositions we are really excited about.” Dominic Oelze Last week, Dominic Oelze, Martin Barth and Elias Aboud filled the @boulezsaal with sound, movement, and surprise—heard as much as seen. Percussion turned into pure experience! 🥁 Percussion: Dominic Oelze, Martin Barth, Elias Aboud @elias_aboud_ Piano: Alina Pronina @schwarze.taste , Giuseppe Mentuccia @giuseppe.mentuccia 📸: @classipix

It is the end of a musical era: 45 years after playing its first concert, the legendary Hagen Quartett @hagen_quartett came to Berlin for the last time. 💐 For their farewell Berlin concert at the @boulezsaal , the musicians paired works by Beethoven and Webern, two composers they have frequently programmed together. Aptly for a group that began as an all-family affair, they concluded the program by welcoming the next generation: Julia Hagen @juliahagencello , daughter of cellist Clemens Hagen joined them for Schubert’s String Quintet. 📸 @jakobtillmann

Sunny skies, warmer days, and a new month full of music. Swipe through to discover what’s coming up in the first half of May. 🎟️ Tickets available at boulezsaal.de

An evening dedicated to Dmitri Shostakovich Last week, Elisabeth Leonskaja @elisabethleonskaja , one of the last pianists to have played for Shostakovich as a student, presented a program of his works from the 1940s and 50s. A few months after the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death, the program at the @boulezsaal highlighted different facets of his piano writing: the Concertino for Two Pianos with Mihály Berecz @mihaly_berecz , followed by the Second Piano Sonata (1943), and concluding with the deeply moving Piano Quintet in G minor (1940) with the Signum Quartett @signumquartet 📸 @classipix

This was Journey to Softness. Pianist Kunal Lahiry’s interdisciplinary showcase of solo piano music, dance, and poetry premiered last week to a sold-out audience at Pierre Boulez Saal — the first collaboration between TRAUMA and the hall. Taking Ligeti’s l’escalier du diable and Beethoven’s penultimate piano sonata as musical pillars to simulate a paradigm shift between the relentless patriarchal staircase and the fugue as a symbol of queer liberation — this program of Scriabin, Berio, Radiohead, Ravel, Lachenmann, and more unlocked a dramaturgical essence within the classical piano repertoire that speaks to today’s urgent need for self-discovery. Kunal Lahiry was joined by dancer Rubén Nsue and poet Nadia Marcus. Developed specifically for the hall’s 360-degree architecture, the work unfolded in the round, dissolving the fixed hierarchies of the concert format and rethinking the relationship between performer and audience. Across music, movement, and text, Journey to Softness traces a shift from rigidity towards a more fluid, shared space of perception. What were your impressions? What did you leave behind? Concept, Piano: @kunal.lahiry Movement: @rubenmbese Poetry: @nadia.d.marcus Sound & Light: @emiliocorderocheca_lighting Makeup: @sarahhartgens Direction: @troels_primdahl Funded and produced by @traumaisforever & @boulezsaal Photos: @jakobtillmann