Berlin Philharmonicโ Conductor Personally thanks Fans for Braving Rain at โTaipei Performance
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Kirill Petrenko, chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, made a rare public appearanceโฃ following the orchestra’s โคoutdoor performanceโ in Taipei on November 13, 2024, to personally thank Taiwanese music fans for attending despite rainy โweather. The orchestra concluded its performance of Brahms‘s Symphony No. 1 to prolonged โขapplause and cheers.
Following the concert, โnumerous Berlin โPhilharmonic musicians greeted fans who remained after theโค downpour. Petrenko, knownโค for his reserved demeanor and avoidance ofโ press conferences, addressed the crowd โขdirectly, expressing his gratitude: “You still have to listen to the โmusic despite the rain. That’s why we are here.” He also urged fans to take care of their โhealth andโค avoid catching colds, adding, “We will definitely meet againโ soon.”
The event mirrored the success of the Berlinโฃ Philharmonic’s first outdoor broadcast in Taiwan in 2005, marking the orchestra’s sixth visit โto the โขisland and celebrating a 20-year friendship withโ Taiwanese music enthusiasts. It concluded a seven-year visit and was โขhailedโค as a historic moment for classical music in Taiwan.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan, who also attended the performance, noted that the enthusiasm of Taiwanese fans two decades ago inspired the creation of the Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall and reaffirmed Taipei’s โขwelcome for future performances byโ the orchestra.