René Barbera, Florian Sempey and Alisa Medvedeva will perform with the Filharmonie Brno under Maestro Arkady Beryn at the Philharmonie Berlin on 2 November 2026.
Florian Sempey
The Philharmonie Berlin will welcome an Opera Gala to its Großer Saal on Monday, 2 November 2026. The evening brings together American tenor René Barbera, French baritone Florian Sempey and soprano Alisa Medvedeva with the Filharmonie Brno under the direction of Maestro Arkady Beryn.
The concert brings three singers with distinctly different international careers onto one stage.
René Barbera
René Barbera has appeared at many of the world’s leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Opéra national de Paris, the Vienna State Opera and the Bavarian State Opera. In 2011, he became the first singer to win all three top prizes at Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition.
French baritone Florian Sempey has built his career across major European opera houses and festivals. Particularly known for the role of Figaro in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, he has appeared at the Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Opera House in London and the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. In 2022, he was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Alisa Medvedeva
Soprano Alisa Medvedeva, a graduate of the Saint Petersburg Conservatoire, has performed internationally at venues including Dubai Opera, Wiener Stadthalle and Mozarthaus Vienna, with further appearances in Paris, Monaco, Porto Cervo, St. Moritz and Bucharest.
The singers will be joined by the Filharmonie Brno, one of the Czech Republic’s principal orchestras. Founded in 1956, the ensemble has developed an extensive international presence through concerts, tours and festival appearances.
Maestro Prof. Arkady Beryn
Maestro Prof. Arkady Beryn, who conducts the gala, has more than forty years of professional experience. He was Chief Conductor of the Internationale Symphoniker Deutschland from 2003 to 2011 and has worked with the Berliner Symphoniker, the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Győr Philharmonic. He has conducted in the Philharmonie Berlin, the Vienna Musikverein, the Wiener Konzerthaus and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and in July 2026 led a concert performance of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin in Jerusalem. He holds the Grand Prix of an international competition in Luxembourg.
The programme combines celebrated opera arias and duets with orchestral works, moving through different musical traditions and periods. The gala format gives each of the three soloists individual appearances while also bringing the singers together in ensemble moments, accompanied throughout by the Filharmonie Brno.
The concert will take place in the Philharmonie Berlin’s Großer Saal, one of the German capital’s most recognisable cultural venues. Designed by Hans Scharoun and opened in 1963, the hall is distinguished by its central stage and surrounding terraces, creating a close relationship between performers and audience.
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
