Brett Dean Returns to the Berliner Philharmoniker

The Berliner Philharmoniker has named Brett Dean as composer-in-residence for the 2026/27 season, restoring a direct link to the ensemble’s internal history. Dean, who served as a violist in the orchestra for 14 years, understands the mechanical possibilities of the Berlin string sound from the inside. His recent works often utilize scordatura (the unconventional tuning of string instruments to achieve specific timbres) to disrupt the standardized tonal sheen of the late-Romantic orchestra. This residency emphasizes the physicality of contemporary performance, placing a practitioner-composer at the heart of the institution. Dean’s presence on the podium and in the section provides a rare pedagogical bridge between the orchestra's legacy and its current aesthetic goals.