Ready for the Berlinale…

1960s architecture: still hot!

Its golden, glittering skin contrasts with Berlin’s winter gray sky and shimmers in those long summer sunsets: the Berliner Philarmonie is the city’s fabulous praline wrapped in golden paper.

Hans Scharoun – like a maitre chocolatier – concocted this fluid architecture for music, which looks ephemeral like a dessert. Last year a portion of its organic-looking roof it went up on fire but after one week it was business as usual, actually, music as usual.

Like chocolate, music can be savored with closed eyes. But why not admiring the beauty of the praline before biting into it? You can visit the Philarmonie before the concert starts. Check out concert information here and the building’s visiting times…the digital concerts will make you even more curious.

Wildly controversial at first, today universally regarded as an emblem of the city of Berlin: Hans Scharoun’s Philharmonie. In 1956 the architect’s design won the competition for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s new concert hall, but his modern, visionary conception also unleashed a great hubbub. The building went up (1960-63) in the face of great resistance. In the meantime, this concert hall with its unique architecture and acoustics has become a model for many others all over the world.

Digital culture festival: Transmediale

Yes, the Berlinale is the big event in February in Berlin. But why not getting there earlier and pocket in also the Transmediale? The festival of digital cultures runs in Berlin on February 2nd-7th.

Movies, performances, exhibitions and conferences will take place in the Haus der Kulturen der Welt iconic 60s building, recently re-opened. But the theme is not the past…but Futurity Now!

Begin your festival with the special opening gala, which starts with a ceremony featuring a rare appearance by celebrated author and futurologist, Herbert W. Franke, plus addresses by Stephen Kovats and Hortensia Völckers. Following the ceremony, Charlemagne Palestine will announce the commencement of the festival by ringing the bells of the Tiergarton Carillon, and Yvette Mattern’s latest Global Rainbow laser installation, From One to Many, will be switched on spectacularly illuminating the path between the House of World Cultures and the Alexanderplatz…

Source: Transmediale.de

Berlin Dance Festival: Tanztage 2010

New year, new cultural horizons. If you spent your nights at Tresor, Berghain or Kesselhaus but are interested also in dance as a performing art,  it’s already festival time in Berlin. Check out the program here.

“The TANZTAGE BERLIN 2010 festival team is keeping an eye on their Berlin roots, taking a close look at the scene and, at the same time, over-growing their borders. Young Berlin artists will be put in focus, given support and encouragement. For a festival made up of and for the international Berlin scene, it is important to broaden horizons and keep a look out for new ideas and impulses among newcomers from beyond Berlin – and to learn from them”.

Source: tanztage.de, tanzpresse.de, sophiensaele.de, tanzforumberlin.de

Ready for the 1 million people party @ Brandenburg Gate?

We wish to our Guests, the ones who visited in the past months, the lucky ones who are here in Berlin now and the future ones a wunderbar 2010 full of health and exciting projects!

The party in Berlin has already started…have a look!

Looking forward to 2010

Let me guess. You’re looking for the perfect low-cost airline booking and you’re finding absolutely nothing reasonable for New Year’s Eve in Berlin. Make a smart move and secure your seat on a flight just in time for the endless parties of the Berlinale Film Festival , from 11th to 21st February.

Moreover, within January 15th you can apply here for becoming a member of the festival’s Jury and be a film critic for a few days. Or participate to the Berlinale Flashback contest by sending your own movie story.

And what about January? It’s even cheaper. The great movie theaters like the Yorck in Kreuzberg or the Kino International on Karl-Marx-Allee are waiting for you. Unless you’re looking for something more retrò like the Astor Lounge…

Photo: Kino International’s lounge on Karl-Marx-Allee

Things Techno: Industriekultur

Industriekultur: in the German language there’s always the good word to describe something, and Industriekultur is one of them. Digital capital of Germany, Berlin has a strong industrial soul. Impressive spaces and infrastructures, built in the early 20th century by Peter Behrens or recent DDR temples, are architectural landmarks that you will be able to experience. Climb on the Schöneberg gazometer, visit the eWerk in Mitte or travel to Ferropolis MadMax….if you like things techno.

Photo: Ferropolis

Mumble…Mumble…Berlin?!

Puzzled? Undecided? Haven’t made up your mind for the December holidays? If you are looking for an inspiring and surprising city, that is Berlin…Concerts and Musicals in December will keep you busy…

Photo: IlGatto (Brandenburger Gate, late afternoon)

Vorsprung durch Technik!

It seems that the most well-know German expression in the Anglosaxon world is Audi’s “Vorsprung durch Technik”! Well, for things techno, be it cars, motorbikes and music, Germany is my oyster! Next week German brands such as Boss, Puma will present together with their French, Italian and Swiss cousins what kind of techno makes fashion tick…looking forward to it! Follow Techno Luxury also on Twitter!

What’s hot in Berlin?

Hundreds of thousands of people will descend on Berlin for its Festival of Freedom, taking place at the iconic Brandenburg Gate on 9 November – exactly 20 years after the fall of the wall. The festival will kick off with a classical concert at Pariser Platz.

After this, there’ll be a “domino rally”, symbolising the fall of the wall: a 2km-long chain of more than 1,000 giant dominoes will be sent tumbling down along the path of the wall, between the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz. For more details on the Festival of Freedom and other events taking place to celebrate the anniversary see mauerfall09.de