You can ditch the jacket and tie, the black dress and string of pearls, for these great low-key concerts that take place outside the concert halls or during lunch hours.
To begin with, there are noontime concerts presented by leading Berlin orchestras such as the free Lunch Concerts at the Berlin Philharmonie. Judging by swelling audience numbers, the Philharmonie's Lunch Concerts are no longer a well-kept secret -- a favorite with tourists, office workers on breaks and visitors to the Kulturforum. Every Tuesday at 13:00, you can stop by to hear soloists of the Berliner Philharmoniker in a 30-40 minute chamber music concert. The mini-concerts also feature soloists from the Deutsche Symphonie Orchester (DSO) and the Staatskapelle Berlin or conservatory students. Seats go fast, but you can find stairs and coat-check counters on which to sit, or look out over the foyer from the first floor. There's a fine lunch to go with the music, but unlike the arts the lunch is not for free.
The fourth floor of the Maison de France on Kurfürstendamm is the venue for the DSO's own lunchtime series. La Bonne Heure takes place every first and third Wednesday of the month, beginning at 12:45. The program, featuring mostly French chamber music, runs about 45 minutes and is accompanied by French catering in a wonderfully retro 1950-s bar and a view over Ku'damm. Taking your seat at La Bonne Heure is like taking a deep breath in the midst of a busy day.
Another series to watch out for: the Espresso Concerts at the Konzerthaus on Gendarmenmarkt, beginning in the 2011-12 season. Sebastian Nordmann, who recently took over as director, has given programming at the Konzerthaus an overhaul, letting in a fresh breeze. The 2011-12 season, called "Open", aims to bring the public into the Konzerthaus throughout the day instead of only during evening performance hours, and the Espresso Konzerte are one of these open invitations. These 45-minute midday concerts will take place on the last Wednesday of each month at 14:00. The ticket price includes an espresso -- a welcome freebie for those who have to return to the office, library or practice room.
There's lots more: concerts in museums, studios and music conservatories. So stay tuned.
The next Lunch Concert is on Tuesday, May 17. Entrance is free. The program is usually announced shortly before the concert. This series runs till June 28, 2011. For more information see the Berlin Philharmonic's website.
The next La Bonne Heure is on Wednesday, May 18. The Masion de France is on Kurfürstendamm 211. Tickets are 6 EUR and you should make a reservation. For more information see the DSO's website.
The Espresso Konzerte series begins in the 2011-12 season. For dates, check the Konzerthaus website, the season brochure, or the monthly program calendar available at the concert hall. The program is advertised only shortly before the concert. The concert location is revealed only after you get your ticket. The concerts move from month to month between the smaller halls within the Konzerthaus.
To begin with, there are noontime concerts presented by leading Berlin orchestras such as the free Lunch Concerts at the Berlin Philharmonie. Judging by swelling audience numbers, the Philharmonie's Lunch Concerts are no longer a well-kept secret -- a favorite with tourists, office workers on breaks and visitors to the Kulturforum. Every Tuesday at 13:00, you can stop by to hear soloists of the Berliner Philharmoniker in a 30-40 minute chamber music concert. The mini-concerts also feature soloists from the Deutsche Symphonie Orchester (DSO) and the Staatskapelle Berlin or conservatory students. Seats go fast, but you can find stairs and coat-check counters on which to sit, or look out over the foyer from the first floor. There's a fine lunch to go with the music, but unlike the arts the lunch is not for free.
The fourth floor of the Maison de France on Kurfürstendamm is the venue for the DSO's own lunchtime series. La Bonne Heure takes place every first and third Wednesday of the month, beginning at 12:45. The program, featuring mostly French chamber music, runs about 45 minutes and is accompanied by French catering in a wonderfully retro 1950-s bar and a view over Ku'damm. Taking your seat at La Bonne Heure is like taking a deep breath in the midst of a busy day.
Another series to watch out for: the Espresso Concerts at the Konzerthaus on Gendarmenmarkt, beginning in the 2011-12 season. Sebastian Nordmann, who recently took over as director, has given programming at the Konzerthaus an overhaul, letting in a fresh breeze. The 2011-12 season, called "Open", aims to bring the public into the Konzerthaus throughout the day instead of only during evening performance hours, and the Espresso Konzerte are one of these open invitations. These 45-minute midday concerts will take place on the last Wednesday of each month at 14:00. The ticket price includes an espresso -- a welcome freebie for those who have to return to the office, library or practice room.
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| Sol Gabetta, artist-in-residence at the Konzerthaus next season. Photo: copyright, Marco Borggreve: with kind permission of the Konzerthaus Berlin |
There's lots more: concerts in museums, studios and music conservatories. So stay tuned.
The next Lunch Concert is on Tuesday, May 17. Entrance is free. The program is usually announced shortly before the concert. This series runs till June 28, 2011. For more information see the Berlin Philharmonic's website.
The next La Bonne Heure is on Wednesday, May 18. The Masion de France is on Kurfürstendamm 211. Tickets are 6 EUR and you should make a reservation. For more information see the DSO's website.
The Espresso Konzerte series begins in the 2011-12 season. For dates, check the Konzerthaus website, the season brochure, or the monthly program calendar available at the concert hall. The program is advertised only shortly before the concert. The concert location is revealed only after you get your ticket. The concerts move from month to month between the smaller halls within the Konzerthaus.
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