Berlin & I

Foul play à la française

evm — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:16:43 +0000

The latest project from the Insitut français in Berlin promises goose bumps all round, summer or no summer. Les Nuits Du Polar explores the genre of crime in literature and the fine arts in all its diversity; from gruesome to beautiful, absurd to unsettling.

Nathalie van Doxell’s photo series ‘Présumés Coupables’ is one of two exhibitions on display as part of Les Nuits Du Polar. The artist has taken mugshots of convicted criminals, blown them up and provided a short handwritten description of their crimes. By choosing a ten year old child, an ‘innocent’, to write out the descriptions, she reminds us of the lost innocence of the criminals in question.

Artists duo Bachelot Caron provide an alternative perspective on crime, placing the observer in the role of police inspector… or perhaps even perpetrator. Their works, which can be described as somewhere between painting and photography, capture the moment just as something terrible has happened or is about to happen. The images are unsettling and powerful because we are used to seeing the aftermath of crimes, but not their immediacy.

The grand opening takes place this Friday the 11th of May from 6pm. The artwork will be accompanied by readings in French from a host of talented French crime authors: Dominique Manotti, Patrick Raynals, Arlette Lauterbachs and Frantz Delplanques. The Schaubühne theatre’s Christoph Gawenda will then perform the pieces in German.

Les Nuits Du Polar
Institut français
Kurfürstendamm 211
11th of May to 31st of July
Grand opening: Friday 11th of May, 6pm

Unholy matrimony

evm — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:52:36 +0000

Director and conductor Christoph Hagel is known for his choice of unusual settings. His latest production is by no means an exception; until the 27th of May you can catch The Marriage of Figaro in the Bode Museum in Berlin. What better way to experience Mozart’s celebrated opera than from within the hallowed halls of this Wilhelminian Baroque masterpiece? You can catch the tangled love lives of Figaro & co. on display alongside the museum’s oil paintings, sculptures and old coins until the 27th of May.

We’ve got four pairs of tickets to give away for the performance on the 6^th of May at 8pm. Just drop us a line or leave a comment below for your chance to win. Nothing livens up a Sunday evening like a spot of droit du seigneur!

Figaros Hochzeit im Bode Museum
Opera by W.A. Mozart
Until 27th of May (Fri-Sun 20:00)
Bode-Museum
www.figaro-im-bode.de

That’s amore!

evm — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:52:12 +0000

For the finale of “Time Frame – Biennale for old music VI” the Vocalconsort Berlin will be presenting works from two Italian composers: Carlo Gesualdo who was a contemporary of Shakespeare, and Giacinto Scelsi who died in 1988.

We’re giving away tickets for the performance entitled “From Inside” on May the 2nd at 7pm. If you’d like to win a pair just leave a comment below or send us an email.

Zum Ausklang von „Zeitfenster – VI. Biennale Alter Musik“ präsentiert das Vocalconsort Berlin Werke zweier italienischer Komponisten: Carlo Gesualdo war ein Zeitgenosse Shakespeares, Giacinto Scelsi starb 1988.

Wir verlosen 2×2 Freikarten für den 2. Mai um 19 Uhr. Schreiben sie uns eine Mail oder hinterlassen Sie einen Kommentar auf der Website.

From Inside – Ein Gesualdo-Projekt
Vocal Music
01 May 20:00/02 May 19:00
Radialsystem V
Holzmarktstrasse 33, Friedrichshain
T 030 20 30 92 101

May / June issue 2012

evm — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:45:03 +0000

The next issue of Berlin&I is now available in all good newsagents and in the city’s top hotels! Pick up a copy today to find out what Berlin’s got to offer during May and June.

Until 1989, Berlin was a divided city in which two of everything was needed: one for the East and one for the West. Town halls, stadiums, opera houses, public transport systems, police headquarters – and each half had at least one airport. Since the reunification plans have been underway for a new airport to cater to the rapidly increasing number of visitors flying to Berlin. And now it’s finally completed! On the 3rd of June, the first aircraft will dock at the newly built terminal of the former GDR airport in Schönefeld. In the night before the opening, technical equipment and vehicles will be brought over from the airport in Tegel in a giant convoy along the city’s ring road. Berliners and visitors to the city can look forward to new connections to the rest of the world and a modern, “user-friendly” airport. We can’t wait.

Frederick the Great was born 300 years ago and there will be lots of events during 2012 to commemorate Prussia’s most important King. The exhibition “Frederisiko” is now showing in Potsdam. So there’s never been a better time to visit the beautiful Sanssouci Park there. In the section “tour guide” our historian and city expert Bernd Ingmar Gutberlet will be taking us on a tour of the Unesco World heritage site right on Berlin’s doorstep.

A treat fit for a King!

Thespian roadtrip

avi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:37:10 +0000

The Long Night of Opera and Theatre is a unique opportunity to get an overview of Berlin’s diverse theatre scene. Buses will transport audiences from one theatre to the next and at each stop along the way, they will be treated to a different performance lasting around 20 minutes. A total of 57 opera houses and theatres will be opening their doors and showing excerpts from current or upcoming productions. The audience can cast a glance behind the scenes and get to know a different side to some well-known actors through various discussions. If you’re the sociable type you could even make friends on the road with other theatre lovers. Last stop is the after-party in the Volksbühne at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.

Die Lange Nacht der Opern und Theater ist die einzigartige Gelegenheit, sich einen Überblick über Berlins vielfältige Theaterszene zu verschaffen. Busse fahren die Zuschauer von Theater zu Theater, wo Aufführungen von je ca. 20 Minuten gezeigt werden. 57 Berliner Opern- und Theaterhäuser öffnen ihre Türen und zeigen Ausschnitte aus aktuellen oder künftigen Produktionen. Das Publikum kann einen Blick hinter die Kulissen werfen und zum Beispiel in Diskussionen bekannte Schauspieler von einer anderen Seite kennen lernen. Unterwegs im Bus lernt man, wenn man will, andere Theaterbegeisterte kennen. Am Ende der Nacht gehts in die Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz zur großen Abschlussparty.

Lange Nacht der Opern und Theater
28 April From 19:00
Tickets 15 € including bus ticket
www.langenacht.berlin-buehnen.de

Three’s a crowded house!

avi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:44:23 +0000

This Friday the Staatsoper im Schillertheater invites you to an evening of contemporary dance courtesy of three internationally acclaimed choreographers – Nacho Duato, William Forsythe and Marco Goecke – who will each lead a performance. We’re giving away free tickets to the premiere this Friday!

Nacho Duato’s piece Arcangelo draws on the spirit of baroque music and reflects on the subject of “heaven and hell”; Herman Scherman, a modern classic by William Forsythe demonstrates his sense of humour whilst demanding a lot from the performers; and the sky on that cloudy old day was the very first piece by Marco Goecke for the Staatsballett Berlin, where his acclaimed works have now made him a regular fixture on the programme.

Zeitgenössischer Tanz der Spitzenklasse wird Freitagabend in der Staatsoper im Schillertheater geboten – wir verlosen zwei Tickets für die Premiere! Drei international gefeierte Choreographen steuern je ein Werk zu diesem dreiteiligen Abend bei.

Arcangelo von Nacho Duato greift die Stimmung der Barockmusik auf und reflektiert über das Thema „Himmel und Hölle“. Herman Scherman von William Forsythe lässt dessen Sinn für Humor erkennen, der moderne Klassiker verlangt den Interpreten aber auch viel ab. and the sky on that cloudy old day war die erste Uraufführung von Marco Goecke für das Staatsballett Berlin. Längst hat er mit seinen vielgelobten Werken Eingang in die Ballettspielpläne gefunden.

PREMIERE
27 April 19:30
Staatsoper im Schiller Theater
Bismarckstraße 110
10625 Berlin-Charlottenburg
T 030 20 35 45 55

DATES
27/29 April
01/04/05/17/19 May
02 June

Hotel Crush: The Mandala

evm — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:21 +0000

In our series “Hotel Crush” we follow hot on the heels of our magazine – into the best hotels in town. Each month we introduce you to a new Berlin&I partner hotel. If you’re really lucky you could even win a stay there… This month we are proud to present our newest partner hotel: the Mandala at Potsdamer Platz.

One of Berlin’s few five star hotels, the Mandala is the epitome of understated luxury in Mitte. What sets the Mandala apart from other top hotels is the friendly yet unobtrusive customer service and personal touches; this is not a chain hotel, this is a home from home (assuming you’ve got a really, really nice home with its own spa).

The History
The Mandala Hotel is located at Potsdamer Platz in Mitte, an area which has experienced Berlin’s tumultuous recent past more profoundly than any other. By the 1920s, Potsdamer Platz had established itself as one of the busiest squares in Europe but heavy bombing during World War II left the area unrecognisable; once impressive architecture from the likes of Karl Friedrich Schinkel was destroyed beyond repair. The area remained a wasteland during the Cold War because of its location in the no man’s land between East and West. Following reunification Potsdamer Platz took centre stage once more, with developers fiercely competing to play a part in its comeback. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine Berlin’s cityscape without the imposing skyscrapers and modern architecture of Potsdamer Platz.

The Design
Although the unassuming entrance to the Mandala Hotel is located just off the bustling Potsdamer Strasse, the moment you cross the threshold you enter a different world; a world of calm and tranquility. The Mandala’s interior is luxurious, but not overwhelmingly so. Here, minimalist design is paired with stylish details, such as a golden mosaic water feature in the lobby. The rooms are of course large, bright and come with their own balcony, but it is the little details which make the guests feel at home, like the kitchenette or the well-stocked bookshelf.

The Frills
The Ono spa on the 11th floor takes the Mandala principles of relaxation to a whole new level. Whether you’re taking advantage of their wide range of spa services or working out in the fitness centre (which is free for guests) you’ll have some of the best views of the city. You can refuel in the Facil restaurant on the ground floor, with its debonair atmosphere and the “light” cuisine favoured by head chef Michael Kempf, one of the best in town. But the Mandala also does glamour and excitement; the Qiu Lounge is the best place to take full advantage of the hotel’s privileged vantage point over Potsdamer Platz. It’s a place to see and be seen.

The ‘Hood
Potsdamer Platz is once more the exhilarating urban heart of Berlin. The luxury shopping boulevard Friedrichstrasse, Mitte’s culinary smorgasbord of restaurants and most of the city’s top tourist attractions (the Reichstag parliamentary building, Brandenburg Gate, the holocaust memorial) are all within easy walking distance… and if you need to get away from it all, then the leafy expanses of the Tiergarten park are just on your doorstep. Not to mention a little event called the Berlinale film festival, whose star-studded red carpets centre around the square.

The Essentials
The Mandala Hotel
Potsdamer Strasse 3
Berlin-Tiergarten
+49 (0) 30 590 05 00 00
welcome@themandala.de

The Mandala Suites
Friedrichstrasse 185-190
Berlin-Mitte
+49 (0) 30 20 39 20
suites@themandala.de

…but you know what they say: an overnight stay is worth a thousand words. If you’d like to win a gift voucher for a night at the Mandala (plus one of the best breakfasts in town) then drop us a line or leave a comment below. The competition ends on Friday the 11th of May.

Borderline handbag

avi — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:05:56 +0000

Luxury handbags and fine silk scarfs are relatively rare in the Berlin&I office. We do, however, have a weakness for beautiful, handmade items, the likes of which can be found in great supply right now at the Hermès store on Kurfürstendamm; you can even take a little something home with you, funds permitting, of course. High-quality scrap materials are left over from the production of Hermès collections but, instead of letting them go to waste, international designers have created a collection of extraordinary objects. They’ll be on display at the “petit h” exhibition in Berlin until the 12th of May. These UPOs (Unidentified Poetic Objects) can be found nestled amongst the luxury products of the current Hermès collection. You’ll find a handbag made from a whinnying (!) cuckoo clock, light fittings made of leather and silk, porcelain dishes with skateboard wheels, a life-size leather deer. It’s fun exploring the weird and wonderful creations, but it’s best not to ask too many questions about their practical value!

Luxuriöse Handtaschen und edle Seidentücher tauchen in der Berlin&I Redaktion eher selten auf. Aber wir haben eine Schwäche für schöne, handgemachte Sachen. Die gibt es jetzt im Hermès Store am Kurfürstendamm zu bewundern und – die entsprechende Kreditlinie vorausgesetzt – auch zu kaufen. In den Werkstätten, die für Hermès arbeiten, fallen hochwertige Materialreste an. Internationale Designer haben daraus für die jetzt in Berlin gezeigte Ausstellung „petit h“ (Kleines H) besondere Objekte gefertigt. Diese UPOs, unbekannte poetische Objekte, mischen sich unter die Luxusprodukte der aktuellen Kollektion. Darunter sind eine Handtasche als wiehernde (!) Kuckucksuhr, Lichtobjekte aus Leder und Seide, eine Porzellanschale mit Skateboard-Rollen, ein lebensgroßer Lederhirsch. Es macht Spaß, die Spielerei mit dem Material zu entdecken. Aber bitte nicht nach dem praktischen Nutzen fragen!

petit h
Hermès Boutique
Kurfürstendamm 58, Charlottenburg
24 April – 12 May
Mon-Fri 10-19:00, Sat 10-18:00
T 030 32 70 83 75

The Italian dream

ok — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:23:48 +0000

Second birthdays are the first kids delight in. They’ve reached the phase where they think for themselves and are ready to run. Best of all, two year olds love sharing their excitement and passion with everyone around them. It couldn’t be more true for Neukölln’s favourite trattoria, Lavanderia Vecchia, celebrating its second anniversary on Saturday the 14th of April.

Translated, Lavanderia means “laundry” and that’s precisely what the premises used to be. However, for most guests the only concession they’ll see to the former guise is the faux washing the delightfully charming owners Renate und Andreas Hoffmann have hung out to dry on lines that criss-cross the room. Nowadays, Lavanderia Vecchia is all about living the Italian dream in the heart of gritty Neukölln. And that means culinary delights from Italy’s Sabina region served up in three lengthy courses in a snazzy setting. With wine, water, espresso and plenty of dolce vita to go along with it.

For their second anniversary, kitchen maestros Benni Bräuniger and Iris Grumpelt will be pulling out all the stops with a choice of samples from the kitchen. The bar will be open and serving espressi by the litre; and even the sun might be making an appearance in the courtyard, to entertain the kids in the backyard. Al fresco, la famiglia and cucina italiana; could it really get any more Italian than that?

-ok

La fiera della Lavanderia Vecchia
14th of April, 3pm – 8pm

Flughafenstraße 46
2nd yard
Fabrik
Neukölln
030-62722152

Fashion on the road

evm — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:23:40 +0000

Each new collection from fashion label Clemens en August is taken on a whirlwind international tour, stopping off in some of the world’s top fashion capitals. Fashion aficionados have the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the latest trends and of course take advantage of the special tour prices. The designer behind the label is Alexander Brenninikmeijer, a member of the C&A dynasty. From the 13th to the 16th of April, the new Spring/Summer collection will be on show at the Sprüth Magers gallery in Kreuzberg.

Clemens en August
Spring/Summer collection
Sprüth Magers Gallery
Oranienburger Strasse 18, Kreuzberg
13th to 16th of April, 11-8pm