Lunch Time Concerts at Berliner Philharmonie
Situated only five minutes away from the bustling urban hotspot of Potsdamer Platz is the Berlin Philharmonie. Home of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra (who were voted amongst the top ten European orchestras in 2006), the venue consists of a chamber music hall and the Berlin Philharmonie itself, both extremely distinctive thanks to their incredible, bright yellow expressionist architecture.
The yellow expressionist exterior of the Berliner Philharmonie. Image: © Bruns / Berliner Philharmonike
Frequently housing concerts all year round which are primarily conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, the Philharmonie has also developed an impressive lunch time concert programme, with concerts held every Tuesday afternoon at 1pm. These concerts are taking place until 17th June 2014 (except for the 17th,24th & 31st of December 2013), and offer the public a free 30-40 minute programme with different musicians each week. Performers include not only members of the Berlin Philharmonic but also scholars of its Orchestra Academy and instrumentalists from the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and the Staatskapelle Berlin.
The Lunch Konzert in action. Image: © Stefanie Loos
Providing a calming alternative to a half hour cafe break, frantically catching up on emails and ingesting a lack lustre sandwich, the concert can provide an oasis of tranquility, both for those tackling the working day and those on their touristic trip across the city.
When visiting a recent concert the number of visitors present was immense – the hall filled with people standing, sitting and leaning on every surface possible, each enjoying the soothing sounds of music in their own way, whether closing their eyes and retreating into a personal reverie or tapping their hands and feet in time.
The kammermusiksaal in all its glory. Image: © N. Altmann / U. Beer
After every lunch time concert there is also an accompanying lunch menu, meaning that the event could also function as a pleasant meeting point for a casual business lunch or drink – a lot more impressive than the nearest noodle bar.
Berliner Philharmonie
Herbert-von-Karajan-Str. 1
10785
Berlin
For more information visit the website here.
