Many music lovers will remember the dramatic circumstances the last time Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique was performed by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker. After welding work had set fire to the roof of the Philharmonie, resulting in its temporary closure, a hangar at Berlin’s Tempelhof airport was used as an alternative venue. Despite the unfavourable conditions, it was a thrilling interpretation. The Berliner Zeitung wrote: “Even given the acoustic difficulties of the hangar, it became clear how much the Symphonie fantastique suits Rattle, how he not only gets to the heart of its more bizarre aspects but also manages to combine them.” It will be all the more exciting to experience this interpretation with the acoustics in the Philharmonie.

This opening concert starts, however, with two other works. First, Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra – a sequence of virtuoso variations based on a rondo by Purcell, which gives the different sections of the orchestra the opportunity to shine. And a première, with a work by Kaija Saariaho, promisingly entitled Laterna Magica, which brings together two themes central to this Finnish composer’s œuvre: the creation of magical moments and the rendering of light audible.

Opening Concert of the 2009/10 season with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle. Live broadcast on Friday 28 August, 7 p.m. Berlin time >New York: 1 p.m. >Tokyo: Saturday, 29 August, 2 a.m Free of charge for Season Pass holders

Subscriptions to the 2008/09 season expire the day before the Opening Concert, so make the most of the time left to watch your favourite concerts from the archive one more time – or take out a subscription for the new season.

Since the last live webcast in the middle of June, subscribers to the Digital Concert Hall have had lots of opportunities to watch the highlights of the 2008/09 season: for example the Brahms cycle with Sir Simon Rattle, the Mahler symphonies with Bernard Haitink and Zubin Mehta, Bruckner’s Eighth with Christian Thielemann, the great piano concertos with Murray Perahia, Maria João Pires, Mitsuko Uchida and Lars Vogt, not to mention the début of Gustavo Dudamel.

These and all other concerts from last season will continue to be available in the archive of the Digital Concert Hall. To watch them you can buy single tickets, or you can subscribe to the 2009/10 season. With a subscription you not only have access to the upcoming concerts in the Digital Concert Hall but also to all of the recordings in the archive. You can find out about all of the exciting concert events directly from the Digital Concert Hall or from our printable online Programme details.