For Free - Berlin - page 132

and regular concerts are also organised in many churches and palaces such as Schloss Char-
lottenburg and Schloss Köpenick.
Top of the pops is, of course, the world-famous Berliner Philharmoniker, which was foun-
ded in 1882 and counts Hans Bülow, Wilhelm Furtwängler and Herbert von Karajan among
its music directors. Since 2002, Sir Simon Rattle has continued the tradition.
Though not in the same league, the other orchestras are no musical slouches either. Look
for concerts by the Berliner Symphoniker, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, the Konzer-
thausorchester and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Note that most venues take a
summer hiatus (usually July and August).
A special treat are the Sunday concerts in a historic mirror hall above Clärchens Ballhaus
in the Scheunenviertel.
Opera
Not many cities afford themselves the luxury of three state-funded opera houses, but then
opera has been popular in Berlin ever since the first fat lady loosened her lungs. Today, fans
can catch some of Germany's biggest and best performances here. Leading the pack in the
prestige department is the Staatsoper Unter den Linden ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Unter den
Linden 7; 100, 200, TXL, Bahn Französische Strasse), the oldest among the three,
founded by Frederick the Great in 1743. The hallowed hall hosted many world premieres,
including Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz and Alban Berg's Wozzeck . Giacomo
Meyerbeer, Richard Strauss and Herbert von Karajan were among its music directors. Since
reunification, Daniel Barenboim has swung the baton.
The Komische Oper (Comic Opera) opened in 1947 with Die Fledermaus by Johann
Strauss and still champions light opera, operettas and dance theatre. Across town in Charlot-
tenburg, the Deutsche Oper Berlin entered the scene in 1912 with Beethoven's Fidelio . It
was founded by local citizens keen on creating a counterpoint to the royal Staatsoper.
Film
Berliners keep a wide array of cinemas in business, from indie art houses and tiny neigh-
bourhood screens to stadium-style megaplexes. Mainstream Hollywood movies are dubbed
into German, but numerous theatres also show flicks in their original language, denoted in
listings by the acronym 'OF' (Originalfassung) or 'OV' (Originalversion) ; those with Ger-
man subtitles are marked 'OmU' (Original mit Untertiteln) . The Cinestar Original at the
Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz only screens films in the original English.
Food and drink may be taken inside the auditoriums, although you are of course expected
to purchase your beer and popcorn (usually at inflated prices) at the theatre. Almost all