Wintertime in Berlin
The winter days in Berlin are simply too short to experience everything , including sipping tea in an authentic Russian tea parlour, tobogganing down a slope with a panoramic view of the city or getting rosy cheeks while visiting the Christmas markets. Particularly large and atmospheric Christmas markets can be found at Gendarmenmarkt, in front of Charlottenburg Palace and also in Spandau’s old town.
Citywide, beginning on the 1st week of Advent (26 November 2011)
New Year’s Party at Brandenburger Tor
Historic surroundings, live music, aerial fireworks and an unforgettable atmosphere – that’s what’s waiting at Brandenburger Tor this New Year’s Eve. One million people from all over the world will gather here to ring in the New Year together. They will celebrate along a two-kilometre long party stretch on Strasse des 17. Juni. Highlights include an extravagant stage show featuring international stars and a gigantic aerial display of fireworks.
New Year’s Eve in Berlin, 31 December 2011,
Exhibitions
PERGAMON – Panorama of the Antique Metropolis
In the coming year, antique Pergamon will literally “come to life” – not only inside the famous museum on Museum Island but also right in front of it. From 1 October 2011 until 31 October 2012, a 22 x 100-metre circular panorama will be on display, featuring daytime/night-time simulations, music and sounds from daily life in the antique city. At the same time, the first ever large-scale comprehensive view of the antique metropolis Pergamon will be exhibited.
Museum Island, 30 September 2011 – 30 September 2012,
Preview: Berlin Highlights 2012
FRIEDERISIKO – anniversary year celebrating 300 years since Frederick the Great was born
2012 is going to be celebrated the whole year long in Berlin and Potsdam – the 300th birthday of Friedrich II, better known in English as Frederick the Great. Authoritarian military commander and composer of numerous flute concertos, Prussian conqueror and the builder of Sanssouci – even during his lifetime this Prussian King was regarded as one of Europe’s most multifaceted personalities. The man himself stands at the centre of a major exhibition “Friederisiko – Friedrich der Große”, which can be seen from 28th April until 28th October 2012 in the New Palace and the park at Sanssouci.
New Palace and park Sanssouci, Potsdam, 28.04.-28.10.2012,
Gerhard Richter Retrospective in the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery)
For many years, Gerhard Richter has been undisputed top of the world ranking list of living artists. His paintings from photographs are among the most sought-after objects in the art market. The Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin is showing a major retrospective of the painter, sculpture and photographer from 12th February until 13th May.
Neue Nationalgalerie, 12.02.-13.05.2012
Opening of the capital airport
A decisive share in the future development of the flight services to and from Berlin will be accounted for by the new capital airport Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brand, BER. It is currently built on the site of Schönefeld Airport. The latter will be replaced by the BER Airport in the same way as Tegel Airport and the already closed Tempelhof Airport. The opening of the new airport is scheduled for 3 June 2012. The so far biggest move in Germany is going to take place the night before 3 June. Then all airport vehicles will be driven to the new location.
Berlin Brandenburg International Willy Brandt, 3 June 2011,
Karl Friedrich Schinkel – Berlin’s master builder
The Neue Wache on the Unter den Linden avenue; the Alte Museum on Museum Island; the Schauspielhaus at Gendarmenmarkt – Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s buildings are still among the most well-known attractions of Berlin. Schinkel not only worked as an architect, however, he devoted himself to painting, drew and created many stage designs. Well-known and unknown works of this universal artist – including his spectacular sketch of the Great Fire in Moscow – can be seen from 7th September 2012 until 6th January 2013 in a special exhibition at the Berlin Kulturforum.
State museums of Berlin – Kupferstichkabinett in cooperation with the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung Munich, special exhibition halls Kulturforum, 07.09.2012-06.01.2013,
Berlin celebrates its 775th city anniversary
Berlin was first mentioned in documents during the year 1237: in the forthcoming year the city therefore celebrates its 775th anniversary. The event will be marked by an historic city party on 28th October 2012 in the Nikolaiviertel, the Nikolai district which represents the cradle of Berlin. The “Lange Nacht der Museen” (Long Night of the Museums) on 25th August 2012 is also dedicated to the city’s history. On 8th and 9th September the oldest buildings in Berlin are the focus of an open day for monuments (Tag des offenen Denkmals).
28.10.2012 (historic city party)
Ancient Egypt in the New Museum (Neues Museum)
She is regarded as the most beautiful girl in Berlin – and is celebrating her 100th anniversary in 2012: on 6th December 2012 the celebrated Nofretete (Nefertiti) bust was discovered during excavations by the German Orient Society in Tell Amarna. Since 1913 the statue has been housed on the banks of the River Spree. The Neues Museum uses the occasion of this anniversary to host a special exhibition. From 6th December 2012 until 13th April 2012 it presents the Amarna Period which, as well as Nefertiti, was also characterised by the mystical Pharaohs Akhenaten and Tutankhamun.
Neues Museum, Egyptian Collection, 06.12.2012-13.04.2013
Berlin Biennale
Early summer 2012 is Biennale time: this forum for contemporary art, which has developed in recent years into a magnet for art enthusiasts from all corners of the world, is showing current work by young artists from in the KW Institute for Contemporary Art from 28th April until July 1st 2012. The curator is Polish artist Artur Zmijewski. The three day JRMiP Congress (Jewish Renaissance Movement in Poland) is taking place within the framework of the Biennale for the first time.
28.04.-01.07.2012,