Berliner Philharmoniker

Last Friday I went to the Berliner Harmoniker for the concert of 8 pm. I don't know anything about classical music (except, of course, the utterly famous composers which are thought you in secondary school) but I do like it once in a while. And the Berliner Philharmoniker is a pretty famous concert hall as are the orchestra and the solo violin player of this evening, Janine Jansen. I had a pretty good place, which was at the backside of the orchestra but central and not too far away. The hall is very well designed though, and there isn't a single place where the view and music isn't excellent. That's why the cheapest ticket was 18 euro, as well. Despite the hefty price tag, the hall was packed, maybe five percent of the places were empty.

Not surprisingly, I was surrounded by other plain-clad tourists, while on the more expensive places in front of the orchestra one could spot gala dresses an lots of tuxedo black&white. Big bar at the entrance selling wine and champagne which I did want to check out, but the 5 euro price tag per glass quenched my thirst.

Funny detail: at the garderobe were big bowls of anti-cough pill samples and it was pretty strange to hear nobody making a noise when the orchestra was playing - until the break, when everybody coughed.

The music itself was exceptional with a great performance of the director and the violin soliste. I don't know anything about playing the violin, but the pieces she played did sound difficult enough, and she played it with much bravado. Shame though it lasted only for one hour and a quarter, only to be followed by a pretty ridiculous four or five return-rounds by the director and the soliste. The acoustics of the hall are great as well, the orchestra sounding like I was sitting right in front of it.

The music started with strings alone as the first piece was a string-only work, the rest of the orchestra together with the soliste came after the first break.

Berliner Philharmoniker
Daniel Harding Conductor
Janine Jansen Violin

Béla Bartók
Divertimento for string orchestra
Benjamin Britten
Violin Concerto
Richard Strauss
Death and Transfiguration