Jüterbog

Yesterday we finally made it to one of our special destinations: the world-famous Philharmonie, the concert hall complex of the Berliner Philharmoniker orchestra.

We have for several years been members of their digital streaming service. For the price of two first-class concert tickets, we enjoy their concerts in real time in the comfort of our lounge, at 6am on a Sunday morning.

We also get access to their massive back catalogue going back 20-plus years, indexed by composer, conductor, performer, season, etc. Plus children’s concerts. And films on a wide range of music-related subjects.

Modern recordings are done with 60 microphones positioned throughout the orchestra, in partnership with Sony, so the sound quality is first class. (If you’re curious, look up the Berliner Philharmoniker yellow logo in the App Store. Free sample for a week.)

The Berliner Philharmoniker reflects Berlin’s egalitarian ethos. It’s self- governing. Members choose who joins it and who is the chief conductor.

Over the years these have been the world’s best. Sir Simon Rattle (so disgusted by the damage Brexit has done to professional musicians that he has taken German citizenship) has been succeeded by the Russian Kirill Petrenko, a gentle, thoughful man who always brings out new meaning in the most familiar pieces of music.

His readings have power when he needs it: his Finlandia, (Sibelius’s anti-Russian tone poem of 1899) is the fiercest I have ever heard.

The orchestra’s old concert hall was blown to bits by Allied bombing. Bremen architect Hans Scharoun won the competition to replace it. His revolutionary new building opened in 1964, had the audience surrounding the orchestra, with excellent acoustics, wide flowing foyers, and no chandeliers.

When the orchestra insisted on a space for important guests, he refused. Pushed again, he placed it under a low balcony, between two fat pillars, with the worst acoustics in thr house. Getman Chancellor Angela Merkel refused to sit there!

Traditional critics called it “Karajan’s Circus.” The people loved it.

A smaller Chamber Music hall was added in the 1980’s. This has the same amazing acoustics
Reverberation time of 1.6 seconds; seats, ceiling shaping and surface finishes designed so the sound is the same whether the hall is full or empty. Very useful for the small groups performing during Covid.Meer informatie