A varied programme awaits you this weekend in Berlin: The Staatsoper Festival is in the starting blocks, Yoko Ono's exhibition starts at the Neue Nationalgalerie and a new musical takes to the stage at the Stage Theater des Westens. Get ready for a Berlin spring awakening!
Tip 1: Visit Yoko Ono at the Neue Nationalgalerie
In addition to her impressive career as an interdisciplinary artist and her life alongside Beatles star John Lennon, Yoko Ono is known for her unrelenting commitment to world peace. Her art reflects her activism and inspires hope for a better world. From this weekend, you can visit works from all of the artist's creative phases in the exhibition YOKO ONO: DREAM TOGETHER at the Neue Nationalgalerie - because "viewing" would be the wrong word.
Ono's art thrives on exchange and interaction: even before entering the exhibition, you are encouraged to sort through river stones collected by the artist and take a moment to reflect. A little peace and quiet and contemplation can't hurt either: The exhibition deals with big themes of being human.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Neue Nationalgalerie, Potsdamer Straße 50, Tiergarten
Tip 2: Celebrate spring with the festive days of the Berlin State Opera
Every year, the world of classical music awakens from hibernation with the Staatsoper Berlin's festive season and transforms the Easter period into an absolute musical highlight. This weekend, things are finally getting underway: Schubert's Winterreise, Wagner's Parsifal and Bellini's Norma kick things off and get you in the mood for ten days full of musical masterpieces.
The Staatsoper Festival is known for its varied new productions, which are brought to the stage by the Staatskapelle Berlin and brilliant soloists from all over the world. The music festival was founded by the Argentinian-Israeli star conductor Daniel Barenboim, who still regularly enriches the programme as a pianist. Look forward to a brilliant start to spring!
When: Friday at 19:30, Saturday at 16:00, Sunday at 18:00
Where: Berlin State Opera, Unter den Linden 7, Mitte
Tip 3: Feast your way through pizza, pasta and panna cotta - for 72 hours
Admittedly, that may sound a little ambitious. But it is actually possible - at the 72 hrs True Italian Food Festival. From Thursday to Sunday, Bella Cucina Berlin takes over and surprises you in over 52 Italian restaurants with very special culinary delights at an unbeatable price: throughout the festival, you can get an Aperol Spritz and a selected Italian speciality for just 9 euros. On the festival map, you can see all the participating locations from Pankow to Lichtenberg and put together a delicious walking route: From Aperol to Aperol, from pizza to pasta and back again...
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: At various locations throughout Berlin
20th century master pieces
Not to be missed: Iván Fischer conducts the Konzerthausorchester Berlin with Eisler, Schulhoff, Hindemith and Weill. Guests for four exciting works of the 20th century: soprano Sarah Maria Sun and violist Lawrence Power.
Tip 4: Discover Berlin's Scheunenviertel and the Hackesche Höfe
With Rosenthaler Platz, Hackesche Höfe, Weinmeisterstraße and many historic buildings, there is plenty to discover in Berlin's Scheunenviertel - but then there are the things that cannot be seen with the naked eye. For example, the eventful history and the hidden places of the historic district, which was originally built as a barn settlement for the cattle market on Alexanderplatz.
Over the centuries, the Scheunenviertel developed into a Jewish quarter - the gorgeous synagogue and the Jewish cemetery are still central cultural sites in the city today. Together with an experienced guide, you can take a guided tour through Berlin's Scheunenviertel & Hackesche Höfe at the weekend and get to know these places in a whole new way.
When: Saturday at 11am
Where: 1. Inner courtyard of the Hackesche Höfe in front of the Chameleon Theatre, Rosenthaler Straße 40/41, Mitte
Tip 5: Let the sun shine on your face on a Spree Cruise
The first rays of sunshine of the year feel good - but with spring cleaning and dates in the sun, there's suddenly more going on than expected. It can't hurt to simply put your feet up and let the world - or rather the city - pass you by. If you also want to feel a light breeze on your nose, hold an iced coffee in your hand and listen to exciting city stories, you should give the Bruno Winkler shipping company a try.
On the weekend, the Spreeschiffe will set sail again from the Charlottenburger Ufer and take you along the Spree, past Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, the Rotes Rathaus, the Nikolai Quarter and the House of World Cultures. Two hours in which you are guaranteed not to get bored with the sun deck and splashing waves.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various departure times
Where: Reederei Winkler Jetty: Charlottenburg/Schlossbrücke, Charlottenburger Ufer 1, Charlottenburg
Tip 6: Browse unique handmade items at the Crafty Market Easter Edit
The Manifesto Market at Potsdamer Platz has made it its mission to regularly spoil Berliners with carefully curated music, shopping and lifestyle events. This weekend, the Crafty Market Easter Edit is taking place here: workshops and a large selection of handmade accessories, ceramic items, jewellery and clothing as well as handicrafts from all over the world.
And because shopping is known to make you hungry, the Manifesto Market also provides a varied remedy in this area: 22 restaurants are represented here and will provide you with everything your heart desires. West African specialities, Venezuelan cuisine, an entire floor with Asian delicacies and an Aperol Spritz bar - all under one roof!
When: Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm
Where: Manifesto Market Potsdamer Platz, Alte Potsdamer Straße 7, Mitte
Tip 7: Enjoy Shakespeare's Nurse with a good dose of humour
Although the nurse has not been given her own work in Shakespeare's canon, she is one of the most important characters in Romeo & Juliet alongside the tragic title hero. As Juliet's closest confidante, she is closer to the intricate love drama than anyone else - and brings refreshing humour to the plot. The German musical heroes Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer have now dedicated their own musical to the nurse and have once again conjured up an absolute hit on the stage of the Stage Theater des Westens. With humorous and musically captivating stagecraft, Die Amme unpacks and tells you this weekend what really happened in Verona back then...
When: Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, Sunday at 7pm
Where: Stage Theatre des Westens, Kantstraße 12, Charlottenburg
Tip 8: View The Berlin Years Through Will McBride's Eyes
The artist and photographer Will McBride fell in love with Berlin when he first set foot in the city: In the 1950s, the US-American came to Berlin as a decommissioned G.I. and, fortunately for all of us, soon decided to stay. In the years that followed, he documented the youthful joie de vivre of West Berlin with a very special visual language and created works that have preserved this exciting time for us to this day. With the exhibition Will McBride - The Berlin Years. Blackbox #15, the Bröhan Museum is honouring the exceptional photographer, who died ten years ago, until June as part of EMOP Berlin (European Month of Photography).
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm
Where: Bröhan Museum, Schloßstraße 1a, Charlottenburg
Tip 9: Enjoy diverse stand-up at Marie-Claire Penser's Kitchen Comedy
With her kitchen comedy, stand-up comedy queen Marie-Claire Penser has created an inclusive space in which known and new comedians from all over Germany make an enthusiastic live audience laugh. Changing drag shows and live music round off the programme, resulting in an evening of entertainment at its best - and all in the style of a communal cooking evening. As the show is produced for ALEX TV, there are short breaks between the acts to catch your breath. And with free entry and two hours full of thigh-slappers, you're guaranteed to get out of breath.
When: Friday at 19:30
Where: ALEX TV - Halle, Rudolfstraße 1-8, Friedrichshain
Tip 10: Travel back to the Middle Ages in the Düppel museum village
The Düppel Museum Village is known for its outstanding children's programme and will once again impress visitors during the Easter holidays with a springtime journey back to the Middle Ages in Berlin. At Spring Awakening in the Open-Air Museum, numerous participation stations for little medieval fans await you among sheep, goats and historically reconstructed huts: from Easter egg painting and weaving stations to the fairytale tent, where the fairytale witch Silberzweig awaits with exciting stories. There are also medieval children's games and a juggler performs his tricks. Fresh honey wine is available for adults and there is plenty of bread on a stick for everyone - a day in the fresh air that will be remembered by young and old alike! Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Düppel Museum Village, Clauerstraße 11, Düppel
Open-air museum Easter programme
Tip 11: Celebrate the 400th anniversary of the microscope at the Zeiss Planetarium. birthday of the microscope
Science would not be what it is today without the magic glass that turns an ant into an elephant: This weekend marks the 400th anniversary of the microscope - reason for the Zeiss-Großplanetarium to celebrate. This weekend, you are invited to exciting workshops, lectures and fulldome programmes - where, with a bit of luck, the specimens and objects you bring with you will be shown in the huge dome. The Zeiss Planetarium cinema will also be offering the microscope a screen this weekend: short films, documentaries and feature films will be dedicated to the countless microcosms of our Earth. A scientific perspective on optics, light and everything that can be seen with their help.
When: Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 3pm to 10pm, Saturday from 10.30am to 10pm and Sunday from 10am to 8pm
Where: Zeiss-Großplanetarium, Prenzlauer Allee 80, Prenzlauer Berg
