New formats, exceptional artists and beautiful things that will return. Four staff members tell us what they are looking forward to in the 2023/24 season.

"Spirit of optimism" immediately strikes orchestra manager Sophia Berendt immediately comes to mind as a term for the 2023/24 season: "For me, equality is an important important topic. That's why I feel it's something special to be able to be part of it when we become the first Berlin orchestra to have a female principal conductor in Joana Mallwitz, who is also only a few years older than me. I am very excited about the concert formats that she will bring with her and that will be created together with her here at the orchestra. And of course I'm looking forward to seeing how our audience develops as a result! Something recurring also arouses my anticipation: the New Year's Eve concert, which Joana Mallwitz conducts this season. The turn of the year in the glittering Great Hall with a varied programme guarantees a festive mood for me. A beautiful detail: the colourful evening dresses, bow ties and pocketkerchiefs of the musicians. The invited soloist is mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre, who sang beautifully at her last performance.

Conductors, soloists, orchestra members - doorman Ralf Wartenberg at the stage entrance knows everyone and everyone knows him: "No one just walks by, everyone says hello and if there is a little time, we talk. He likes dealing with people, Ralf tells us: "The Konzerthaus is like a home." He is especially looking forward to the return of the piano duo Lucas and Arthur Jussen in 2023/24, who have already been Artists in Residence with us: "The brothers are so likeable, and besides, I could practise my Dutch a bit with them!"

Moritz Hellmich grew up in London and always longs for a walk along the Thames. The Visitor Services employee is looking forward to the fact that a whole series of British composers will be represented in the 2023/24 season - from Purcell to Handel, the Englishman by choice, to Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten: "I am particularly excited about his 'War Requiem' on Good Friday. With its genesis, it will certainly not be easy to hear this piece here in Germany. Especially not in the current situation. But it is all the more important that we have it on the programme."

"Concerts that don't fit into pigeonholes, offer creative scope for outstanding artists and where you can also get closer to the people behind the music" is what programme director Lucilla Schmidinger is planning with great enthusiasm. There will be many of these in the coming season: "For example, I am looking forward to launching the 'Night Sessions' with Joana Mallwitz. Five days in November are also sure to be exciting, during which the audience can experience our new chief conductor in very different musical situations - from chamber music to Wandelkonzert. And in our discovery series Klazzik we again have extraordinary guests such as the versatile South African cellist Abel Selaocoe or the composer, violinist and singer Caroline Shaw."