Best of Classics — Symphonia Berlin

About the Event

Immerse yourself in the splendor of enduring classics housed in the legendary Kaiser‐Wilhelm‐Gedächtniskirche.

Symphonia Berlin emerged with the goal of delivering classical music at an exemplary standard while innovating concert presentation. Its musicians, outstanding artists worldwide, are devoted to achieving perfection and capturing the emotive richness of every composition, ensuring unforgettable experiences for audiences.

The Mission
Their goal is to make classical music accessible to all and to ignite passion for it in new generations. By fusing groundbreaking programming with high‐caliber performances, they connect tradition with the modern age.

The Repertoire
Spanning from Baroque gems to modern‐day pieces, their varied repertoire showcases the entire spectrum of orchestral music, with special pride in their renditions of symphonies and chamber music.

Igor Budinstein — Violin solo
A prominent violinist, violist, and conductor, Igor Budinstein previously belonged to the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, under maestros such as Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, and Riccardo Muti. An alumnus of the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin, he has directed major orchestras like the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and internationally, the Suwon Philharmonic, Victoria Symphony, and Shenzhen Symphony.
He has also assisted Kent Nagano and Andrey Boreyko, collaborating with talents like Vladimir Ashkenazy, Garrick Ohlsson, Ning Feng, and Piotr Plawner. As a violist, he studied in Moscow, Berlin, and Lübeck, now serving as Principal Viola of the Deutsches Symphonie‐Orchester Berlin, with guest roles in Munich, Hamburg, and Dresden State Operas.

Anna Katharina Borsch — Soprano
Anna Katharina Borsch, an internationally renowned soprano, is celebrated for her rich timbre, artistic profundity, and emotive genuineness. Initially a violinist and organist, she studied under Ruth Grünhagen in Düsseldorf and earned her distinguished Master of Music from the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln with Prof. Mechthild Georg.
As a multiple first‐prize international competition winner, she has graced prestigious stages including the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. A recipient of scholarships from the Richard‐Wagner‐Stiftung Köln and the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, she collaborates with leading ensembles like the Rhenish Oratorio Orchestra and the Vienna City Orchestra.
Recent highlights include her lauded rendition of Verdi’s Requiem in Berlin and her acclaimed Violetta Valéry in Verdi’s La Traviata, a role reprising in Hamburg in 2026. With her expressive depth and remarkable musicality, she engages audiences across Europe in concerts and opera.

Vladimir Magalashvili — Organ
Initially studying chemistry and working in research at Moscow's N.D. Zelinsky Institute before transitioning to music, Vladimir Magalashvili began his formal organ and piano training at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Prof. Galina Semenova. He later attained a Master’s in Organ Performance at Berlin's University of the Arts, with Prof. van Doeselaar and others, and graduated with honors from the Kazan State Conservatory.
He has performed globally in solo recitals and ensemble gigs, including collaborations with the Berliner Philharmoniker and conductors like Jonathan Nott. In 2018, he secured 2nd Prize at the Neubrandenburg Organ Competition. An organist for Berlin's Babylon Orchestra and sirventes berlin Ensemble, he champions the music of Marcel Dupré and promotes organ repertoire expansion, collaborating with contemporary composers. His 2022 project, Organ.Light.Percussion.Electronics, merges classical organ with modern sound design.