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Concert hall of the Philharmonie in Berlin - Concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra with Sir Simon Rattle
Philharmonie: Concert hall © visitBerlin, Foto: Pierre Adenis

Philharmonie Berlin

Orchestra in a circus tent

The Philharmonie is home to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the most famous and best orchestras not only in Berlin, but in the whole world. This is why the building is not a normal concert hall, but rather exhibits an entirely unique architecture designed by Hans Scharoun, and thus outstanding sonic quality.

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Berlin’s Philharmonie hall is home to the legendary Berliner Philharmoniker, long ranked among the very best orchestras in the world. Those standards of excellence are also matched by the Philharmonie itself. Designed by architect Hans Scharoun, not only has the concert hall’s appearance become world renowned, but also its interior – with an innovative design providing the best possible acoustics.

Starting off with a bang 

Bang! A pistol shot echoes through the hall. What just happened? Did a disgruntled orchestra member put down the despotic conductor? Far from it – shortly before opening the new concert hall in 1963, experts tested the acoustics with pistol shots. This is how the Philharmonie achieved its perfect sound.
Sonic space: the concert hall

Unlike traditional concert halls, the orchestra at the Philharmonie sits in the middle of the space, surrounded by the audience. There are even seats behind the orchestra where you can see the conductor’s face. The rows of seats are arranged in terraces. Thanks to the folded walls and the tent-like ceiling, each of the 2,440 seats gets a perfect sonic experience. The chamber music hall also follows this approach and has a similar structure.

An extraordinary orchestra: the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

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A different musical arrangement

The full, silken sound is the trademark of the orchestra under chief conductor Kirill Petrenko. Important conductors like Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Sergiu Celibidache, Claudio Abbado, and most recently Sir Simon Rattle have shaped this orchestra – even Vicco von Bülow, also known as Loriot, once waved the baton.
Another special characteristic of this orchestra is that its 128 members appoint their chief conductor in a secret vote. In 2015 they voted for Kirill Petrenko, who has been conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra as Sir Simon Rattles’ successor since 2018.
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra does not celebrate the end of the season in its main building, but outdoors on the Waldbühne. In accordance with their old tradition, the last piece they play is Das ist die Berliner Luft – before an enthusiastic audience.

Architecture of the Philharmonie

The golden, shimmering Philharmonie is an unusual sight before you even enter. Hans Scharoun, representative of an organic, modern style, conceives and plans the building – which opened in 1963 – from the inside with a tent-like roof, nicknamed “Circus Karajani” after heated debates about its structure.
The Philharmonie is part of the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz, along with
•    the State Library
•    the Gemäldegalerie
•    the Museum of Decorative Arts
•    the Museum of Musical Instruments
•    the New National Gallery
•    the T4 Memorial

Architecture

Even from outside, the shimmering gold Philharmonie is an exceptional sight. Architect Hans Scharoun, an advocate of organic modernism, built the concert hall from the inside out –a design that proved highly controversial. In particular, when the Philharmonie was opened in 1963, the tent-like roof was pilloried and the concert hall nicknamed the “Circus Karajani” after then principal conductor Herbert von Karajan.

The Philharmonie belongs to an architectural ensemble known as the Kulturforum (Cultural Forum) near Potsdamer Platz. The ensemble comprises:

 

Tasty and melodic: free lunch concerts


Every Tuesday at 1 p.m. during the concert season, orchestra members perform a small midday concert with no admission fee. A buffet is also provided.

 

The Digital Concert Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie

Philharmonic concerts are also available online in the Digital Concert Hall – but for a fee. Select concerts are available to browse for free.

Directions to the Philharmonie


Parking is limited at the Philharmonie. You can park in the nearby parking garages of the Sony Center and Potsdamer Platz Arkaden.


The bus lines 200 and 300 stop right in front of the Philharmonie. The stops Kulturforum and Varian-Fry-Straße of the bus lines M48 and M85 are also in the immediate vicinity.


The S- and U-Bahn station Potsdamer Platz is just a few minutes from the Philharmonie on foot.


Info for class trips


The Philharmonie offers a comprehensive education programme for young musicians and music enthusiasts. Special services are available for school classes as well.
 

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