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Concerts commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall

To mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 2014, the Berliner Philharmoniker and Simon Rattle played in cities closely related to the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. Beethoven’s Ninth was flanked by works by composers born in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Monika Rittershaus as invisible as always
Markus Weidmann relaxing backstage in Budapest
Janusz Widzyk

17 Nov 2014

Who takes a photo of whom? Our wonderful photographers worked on a full circle… Thank you for your great work!

Photos: Monika Rittershaus by Markus Weidmann, Markus Weidmann by Janusz Widzyk, Janusz Widzyk by Monika Rittershaus and Monika Rittershaus by Janusz Widzyk

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Marie-Pierre Langlamet, harp
Ivo Kahanek, piano, and 1st concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley
1st violin section
Viola section

17 Nov 2014

A wonderful concert in Prague finishes this tour.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

17 Nov 2014

Two sides of Smetana Hall.

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Hanno Müller-Brachmann, baritone, and Sir Simon
1st concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley and Sir Simon

17 Nov 2014

There’s always something to talk about…

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Choir rehearsal with the Czech Philharmonic Choir
Solo double basses Esko Laine and Janne Saksala
1st violin Zoltan Almasi listens to his colleagues
Cornelia Gartemann and Bettina Sartorius, 2nd violins
Soloist Ivo Kahanek...
...watched by Sir Simon
Peter Brem and Bastian Schäfer, 1st violins

17 Nov 2014

Anspielprobe in Prag

Rehearsal in Prague

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

17 Nov 2014

Backstage at the Smetana Hall in Prague means: we use every corner!

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Viola player and orchestra chairman Ulrich Knörzer buys Trdelnik

17 Nov 2014

Prague impressions by Markus Weidmann

Left to right: Sir Simon Rattle, Matthew Hunter/viola and 1st concertmaster Daishin Kashimoto
1st solo viola Mate Szücs says Good bye to his home country with a selfie.
Birthday boy Philipp Bohnen gets an original Gerbeaud cake from the Lufthansa crew
Aufgegessen!

17 Nov 2014

Good bye Budapest!

Photos: Monika Rittershaus and Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

17 Nov 2014

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

15 Nov 2014

A very special guest at our Budapest concert: Imre Kertesz

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Markus Weidmann)

15 Nov 2014

Der Palace of Arts am Abend

Palace of Arts at the concert evening

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Cellist Dietmar Schwalke
Holm Birkholz (2nd violin) and our beloved Roberto Steiner have a coffee at the famous Cafe Gerbeaud

15 Nov 2014

Nachmittags in Budapest

Afternoon in Budapest

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Noah Bendix-Balgley
Bernarda Fink and Sally Matthews
Sorting out the Fernmusik for Kurtag: Sir Simon Rattle
Alexander von Puttkamer

15 Nov 2014

Probenfotos aus dem Palace of Arts in Budapest

Rehearsal impressions from the Palace of Arts in Budapest

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

15 Nov 2014

Our complete first violin section and some colleagues from our orchestra were thrilled by the marvelous Lajos Sárközy Jr. on their night out in Budapest. This is a must-listen!

Video: Knut Weber

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

15 Nov 2014

Sir Simon probt mit dem Chor in Budapest

Sir Simon rehearses the choir in Budapest

Photos: Monika Rittershaus

Hanno Müller-Brachmann

15 Nov 2014

Good bye Warsaw, hello Budapest!

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Janusz Widzyk)

14 Nov 2014

The starting point for the fall of the wall: “Let your Spirit descend. Let your Spirit descend and renew the face of the earth - this Earth!” John Paul II, 2nd June 1979

Photos: Janusz Widzyk

(Photo: Janusz Widzyk)

14 Nov 2014

An important place for Poland: the Powązki cemetery.

Photos: Janusz Widzyk

Hotel Bristol in the background
Warsaw at 5.45 am

14 Nov 2014

Personal impressions of Warsaw from our Polish double bass player Janusz Widzyk.

(Photo: Markus Weidmann)
Beethoven 9 cast fills the cantine...

14 Nov 2014

The Filharmonie Warsaw outside and backstage.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Jaroslaw Deluga-Gora)

13 Nov 2014

The public and Sir Simon enjoyed it.

Photos: Jaroslaw Deluga-Gora

(Photo: Jaroslaw Deluga-Gora)

13 Nov 2014

After five years finally our next concert in Warsaw.

Photos: Jaroslaw Deluga-Gora

Solo flute Andreas Blau talks to Sir Simon
1st solo viola Mate Szücz talks to Sir Simon
New 1st concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley starts tuning

13 Nov 2014

On to Warsaw… Rehearsal at the beautiful Filharmonie.

Photos: Jaroslaw Deluga-Gora

(Photo: Markus Weidmann and Michael Deutsch (concert photo))
Franz Schindlbeck smuggled himself into the brass section
The basis of the orchestra: our double bass section

12 Nov 2014

Rehearsal impressions and a concert photo.

Photos: Markus Weidmann and Michael Deutsch (concert photo)

(Photo: Markus Weidmann)

12 Nov 2014

Our trucks had to park prominently in front of the hall due to a big construction side behind it.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

(Photo: Markus Weidmann)

12 Nov 2014

Evening impressions from Halle. Georg Friedrich Händel, Halle’s most famous son, stands right in the heart of the city.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

Front row in the traffic jam: David Riniker (cello) left and Holm Birkholz (2nd violin) right
Our tour team: Andreas Pernau, travel agent, left and Annette Mangold, concert planner, right

12 Nov 2014

On our way to Halle/Saale.

Photos: Markus Weidmann

Potstdamer Platz 9. November 2014
Die Reichstagskuppel
Top of Brandenburg Gate

12 Nov 2014

The 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall are the starting point for our “Fall of the Wall Tour” this year. The photos have been taken by Markus Weidmann on 9th November 2014 from the roof of the Philharmonie.