From Gustav Mahler to Ennio Morricone – the BSOF’s 2026/27 season

Amihai Grosz, principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic, is the new ‘Artist in Residence’

New chief conductor, new formats, new ‘Artist in Residence’ from the Berlin Philharmonic: The Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt and its new General Music Director presented the 2026/27 season on 24 June.

It is a concert season featuring internationally renowned guests. As the new ‘Artist in Residence’, Amihai Grosz, principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic, will collaborate with the BSOF for one season. Landmark viola concertos will be one of the highlights of the 2026/27 season. 

Other musical highlights of the season include Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 in A minor, conducted by Felix Mildenberger; Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra Sz116, conducted by Markus Stenz; Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53, featuring the outstanding violinist Arabella Steinbacher as soloist, ‘Finlandia’ and Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2 in D major, as well as Nikolai Kapustin’s Piano Concerto No. 5 with pianist Frank Dupree. He is regarded as one of the world’s finest interpreters of Kapustin’s works.

With an evening of film music dedicated to Ennio Morricone, a sand theatre performance and a big band concert featuring jazz icon Norbert Nagel, the BSOF offers exciting formats that go beyond the classical repertoire.

Chief Conductor Felix Mildenberger has titled his first season with the BSOF ‘Encounters’. The 36-year-old has incorporated formats into the concert programme that foster a new sense of closeness between the audience and the orchestra. At a ‘Mittendrin’ concert, classical music fans will take their seats amongst the musicians and experience the orchestra in a whole new way. There will be a request concert featuring the audience’s favourite works, as well as smaller-scale events where the chief conductor, the orchestra and concert-goers come together.

Felix Mildenberger: “I’m looking forward to getting to know the people of Frankfurt and the neighbouring Polish town of Słubice, to developing a feel for this twin city and, of course, to bringing something of my own background with me. At the same time, for me, encounters are at the heart of every musical experience. Music always arises from dialogue – between composer and performer, between orchestra and conductor, and, not least, between the stage and the audience. I would like to invite you to be part of this dialogue!”

As principal conductor, he aims to firmly establish Brandenburg’s largest symphony orchestra – and its only A-grade orchestra – locally, regionally and internationally.

Felix Mildenberger: In the longer term, I envisage the orchestra’s development on several levels – always with the aim of strengthening both artistic quality and its social roots in equal measure. For me, a first essential step, alongside artistic development, is establishing a strong presence in Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. The BSOF should naturally be recognised as the orchestra of this beautiful twin city – as a cultural force that engages with society, reaches people on both sides of the Oder and is part of public life. Building on this, I would like to extend this influence further into the state of Brandenburg. As a state orchestra, we also wish to attract attention beyond the region and act as musical ambassadors – throughout Germany and internationally. An orchestra of this calibre has much to say and deserves to be heard.

Artistic Director Roland Ott highlights the diversity of the coming season and the high-calibre guests.

Roland Ott: “With Amihai Grosz as our ‘Artist in Residence’, we are hosting one of the world’s finest violists. I am delighted that we have once again been able to secure such a high-calibre artist for our established ‘Artist in Residence’ programme. We are offering concerts featuring a wide range of musical styles and eras – from the court music of Frederick the Great to contemporary compositions.
Furthermore, our educational work remains a key priority. This includes a cross-border project involving German and Polish school pupils. In the border town of Frankfurt (Oder), where people from 120 nations now live, our education project asks, in light of this diversity: ‘How do we treat one another?’