Konzerthaus Berlin

The Konzerthaus on Gendarmenmarkt welcomes its visitors on one of Berlin’s most beautiful squares. Rebuilt in 1984 after being almost completely destroyed in the Second World War, it houses the façade of the Royal Theatre, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, which underwent numerous renovations and rebuilds throughout its history, became known under various names and was used as a cultural institution for both theatre and concert events. In 1821, shortly after its opening, Carl Maria von Weber conducted the premiere of his opera »Der Freischütz« here; Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony was also performed here for the first time in Germany in 1826. During the renovation in the 1980s, the interior of the building was completely redesigned – until 1945, the stage was located in the middle of the building, with a backstage area adjoining it. From 1918 onwards, the building mainly used for theatre, before it was rebuilt and opened in its current form as a concert hall. Klaus Mann’s book »Mephisto« and István Szabó’s film of the same name are set here. The model for today’s Great Hall, which seats 1,600, was the much smaller concert and ballroom in the side wing of the Schinkel building. (There is also a Small Hall for chamber music and the modern Werner Otto Hall.)