René Barbera, Florian Sempey and Alisa Medvedeva join the Filharmonie Brno under Maestro Arkady Beryn for an evening of opera at the Philharmonie Berlin on 2 November 2026.
Berlin’s cultural calendar will welcome an international opera gala on Monday, 2 November 2026, when artists from across Europe and the United States come together on the stage of the Philharmonie Berlin.
The evening brings the Filharmonie Brno to the German capital under the direction of Maestro Arkady Beryn, joined by American tenor René Barbera, French baritone Florian Sempey and soprano Alisa Medvedeva. The programme combines celebrated operatic arias and duets with major orchestral works, bringing several generations and musical traditions together in one concert.
The Filharmonie Brno is one of the Czech Republic’s principal orchestras. Founded in 1956, it represents a musical tradition closely connected with Central Europe and has performed internationally throughout its history. Its appearance in Berlin places the orchestra on one of Europe’s most recognisable concert stages.
The three soloists bring markedly different artistic backgrounds to the evening. René Barbera, born in Texas, became the first singer to win all three top prizes at Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition in 2011. His career has since taken him to leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala and the Opéra national de Paris.
French baritone Florian Sempey has established an international career with appearances at institutions including the Opéra national de Paris and the Royal Opera House in London. Particularly associated with the role of Figaro in The Barber of Seville, he was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2022.
Alisa Medvedeva graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatoire and has performed alongside artists including Andrea Bocelli and Il Divo. Her international appearances have also included Dubai Opera, where she performed in the Christmas Opera Gala in December 2025.
At the centre of the evening is Maestro Prof. Arkady Beryn, a conductor with more than forty years of professional experience. Chief Conductor of the Internationale Symphoniker Deutschland from 2003 to 2011, he has since conducted orchestras including the Berliner Symphoniker, the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, the Camerata Salzburg, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Győr Philharmonic, Hungary’s state orchestra. Teaching occupies a special place in his work: he is a professor of orchestral, opera and symphonic conducting, gives international masterclasses for young conductors, and counts among his former students musicians who now hold leading positions with major orchestras. He holds the Grand Prix of an international competition in Luxembourg.
The programme has been designed as a gala rather than a complete staged opera, allowing contrasting voices and orchestral works to share the same evening. Barbera will perform “Che gelida manina” and “Una furtiva lagrima”, while Sempey’s appearances include “Largo al factotum”, the Toreador Song and “Fin ch’han dal vino”. Medvedeva will perform “Quando me’n vo’”, alongside further solo and ensemble appearances.
The setting gives the event another dimension. Designed by Hans Scharoun and opened in 1963, the Philharmonie Berlin has become one of the architectural and musical landmarks of the German capital. Its Großer Saal places the stage at the centre of the auditorium, surrounded by rising terraces of seats — a design that subsequently influenced concert halls around the world.
The 2 November gala brings together a Czech orchestra, an American tenor, a French baritone, soprano Alisa Medvedeva and Maestro Arkady Beryn on a Berlin stage. It is a meeting of different musical backgrounds around a repertoire that has travelled across languages and borders for generations.
EVENT INFORMATION
Operngala-Nacht – Opera Gala at the Philharmonie Berlin
Monday, 2 November 2026, 20:00
Philharmonie Berlin – Großer Saal
Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Conductor: Maestro Arkady Beryn
Soloists: René Barbera, tenor; Florian Sempey, baritone; Alisa Medvedeva, soprano
Orchestra: Filharmonie Brno (Brno Philharmonic)
Programme: Arias, duets, overtures and intermezzi by Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Puccini, Bizet, Verdi, Mascagni, Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, Dvořák and Zequinha de Abreu
Tickets: from €26.50 via Eventim – eventim.de/artist/philharmonie-berlin/operngala-nacht-philhamonie-berlin-4122419
Event page: Philharmonie Berlin – berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/concert/calendar/57371
Event listing: visitBerlin – visitberlin.de/en/event/brno-philharmonic-opera-gala-night
