Berliner Philharmonie

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The Berliner Philharmonie is a concert hall in Berlin, Germany, located in the Tiergarten district. The building is located on Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße, named for the Philharmonic's longest-serving principal conductor, in the Kulturforum area of Berlin not far from Potsdamer Platz. The hall is the primary concert venue of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. There is a sister music venue, the Kammermusiksaal, next to the Philharmonie proper. The Philharmonie has 2,440 seats, whilst the Kammermusiksaal has 1,180.

Contents 1 History 2 The Organ 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] History

Hans Scharoun designed the hall, which was constructed over the years 1960-1963. It is a singular building, asymmetrical and tentlike, with the main concert hall in the shape of a pentagon. The seating offers excellent positions from which to view the stage through the irregularly increasing height of the seat rows. The stage is at the center of the hall, with seats surrounding it on all sides. The Philharmonie is highly regarded for the quality of its acoustics. Its typical vineyard style seat arrangement was first introduced through this architecture and became a model for other concert halls including the Denver concert hall, the Gewandhaus in Leipzig and the Sydney Opera House.^[1]

On 20 May 2008, a fire broke out at the hall. One-quarter of the roof underwent considerable damage as firefighters cut openings to reach the flames beneath the roof.^{[1] [2]} The hall interior did sustain water damage as well, but was otherwise "generally unharmed." The firefighters limited damage by the use of foam.^[3] The cause of the fire was attributed to welding work, and no serious damage was caused either to the structure or interior of the building.^[4] Concert activity resumed, as scheduled, on 1 June 2008 with a concert by the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.^[5]

[edit] The Organ

I Positiv C–a3 Quintadena 16′ Principal 8′ Spillpfeife 8′ Gedackt 8′ Oktave 4′ Blockflöte 4′ Waldfllöte 2′ Sesquialtera II 22/3′ Nassat 11/3′ Mixtur IV–VI 11/3′ CymbelIII 11/3′ Cor anglais 16′ Cromorne 8′ Tremulant

II Hauptwerk C–a3 Principal 16′ Oktave 8′ Spielflöte 8′ Rohrflöte 8′ Oktave 4′ Gedacktflöte 4′ Nassat 22/3′ Oktave 2′ Mixtur major VI–VIII 2′ Mixtur major IV 2/3′ Bombarde 16′ Trompete 8′ Trompete 4′

III Oberwerk (schwellbar) C–a3 Holzgedackt 8′ Quintadena 8′ Principal 4′ Rohrflöte 4′ Oktave 2′ Gemshorn 2′ Terz 13/5′ Quinte 11/3′ Septime 11/7′ Sifflöte 1′ None 8/9′ Scharff IV–V 1′ Dulcian 16′ Trichterregal 8′ Tremulant

IV Récit (schwellbar) C–a3 Bordun 16′ Holzflöte 8′ Gemshorn 8′ Gedackt 8′ Unda maris 8′ Principal 4′ Flûte douce 4′ Quintflöte 22/3′ Nachthorn 2′ Terz 13/5′ Flageolett 1′ Forniture V 22/3′ Scharffcymbel III 1/2′ Trompete 16′ Trompete harmonique 8′ Oboe 8′ Clairon 4′ Tremulant

Pedal C–g1 Principal 32′ Principal 16′ Flötenbass 16′ Subbass 16′ Oktave 8′ Gedackt 8′ Oktave 4′ Rohrpommer 4′ Bauernflöte 2′ Hintersatz VI 22/3′ Posaune 32′ Posaune 16′ Fagott 16′ Trompete 8′ Schalmei 4′

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of concert halls

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Berliner Philharmonie

• Kulturforum on Potsdamer Platz
• Berliner Philharmonie 360° Panorama

Coordinates: 52°31′N 13°22′E / 52.51°N 13.37°E / 52.51; 13.37

• "Fire at Berlin orchestra's home", BBC News (on-line), 20 May 2008