6 Best Performing Arts in Berlin, Germany

This venue hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, including Maerzmusik (March), Theatertreffen (May), Musikfest Berlin (September), and Jazzfest Berlin (November).

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's best and their resident venue is the Philharmonie, comprising the Grosser Saal, or large main hall, and the smaller Kammermusiksaal, dedicated to chamber music. Tickets sell out in advance for the nights when star maestros conduct, but other orchestras and artists appear here as well. Wednesday's free Lunchtime Concerts fill the foyer with eager listeners of all ages at 1 pm between September and June. Show up early as these concerts can get very crowded.

Of the many composers represented in the repertoire of Deutsche Oper Berlin, Verdi and Wagner are the most frequently presented.

Silent green presents concerts, films, and readings in what might be the city’s most unique venue: a former working crematorium, which opened in 1910 and shut down in 2002. Events happen in both the 17-meter-high domed former funeral hall and the underground concrete crematorium, as well as on the outdoor lawn during the summer. Occasional 90-minute guided tours cover the building’s history; see the website for scheduled times. For refreshments during both show and non-show days, the MARS Café & Bar serves a weekly changing lunch menu as well as coffee and cakes in the afternoon.

The premier opera company in Berlin presents both traditional and contemporary productions, often with international opera stars, in their beautiful concert house on Unter den Linden.

The Volksbühne is unsurpassed for its aggressively experimental style, and the 824 seats are often sold out. The unusual building was reconstructed in the 1950s using the original 1914 plans. It also houses two smaller performance spaces—the Roter Salon and the Grüner Salon—which host everything from retro Motown nights and salsa classes for all levels to touring pop and rock acts.