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Classical Music and Opera in Berlin - Berlin Hotels .com

Not to be overshadowed by the Italians, Germany's opera tradition goes back just as many centuries. And with a history of great composers such as Mozart, Weber, Wagner, and Strauss working in the German language, it is no wonder that opera and classical music continue to be a cornerstone of Germany's musical culture. This is reflected in the fact that Berlin has not just one but three thriving, world-class opera houses -- the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Komische Oper Berlin, and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden -- not to mention numerous concert halls and theaters devoted specifically to performing classical music, ballet, musical theater, and operettas.

The Deutsche Oper Berlin in the Charlottenburg district inhabits a building with striking 1960s architecture and with an interior designed specifically for state-of-the-art acoustic quality and good views from every seat. Although focusing primarily on nineteenth and twentieth century German and Italian opera productions, the Deutsche Oper also presents a fair number of contemporary operas, classical concerts, ballets, dance works, and children's programs.

The Komische Oper Berlin in the district of Mitte is well known for its beautiful nineteenth century stage, history of avant-garde artistic direction, and dedication to productions sung completely in German. The Komische Oper also has its own resident ballet company, regularly screens movie classics, and produces innovative children's theater.

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden, also located in the Mitte district on the avenue Unter den Linden, was built in 1740 in the style of a Corinthian temple. Although the original building was destroyed in World War II, the current Staatsoper was rebuilt with the same architectural design. Also known as the Berlin State Opera, the Staatsoper continues to produce a well-respected selection of operas, classical concerts, children's programs, and ballets.

For classical concerts, large-scale musicals, and operettas, the Theater des Westens in Charlottenburg offers audiences a chance to hear some of the world's top singing stars while surrounded by the building's sumptuous nineteenth-century decor.

In the Gendarmenmarkt square in Mitte, the Konzerthaus Berlin stands out for its 1821 neo-classical architecture and for being a world-recognized center for classical music, producing nearly 550 musical events each year ranging from medieval to contemporary work.

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, originally founded in 1882 and featured on the soundtrack to 2001: A Space Odyssey, currently resides in the innovatively designed Berliner Philharmonie in Tiergarten. The Berliner Philharmonie also hosts a large number of other orchestras and ensembles throughout the year and is home to the Musicologist Institute and the Museum of Musical Instruments.