Berlin Philharmonic Returned to the Live Stage

For the first time since the lockdown began, the Berlin Philharmonic performed to an audience of around 1000 patrons

For the first time since the lockdown began, the Berlin Philharmonic performed to an audience of around 1000 patrons.

With conductor Kirill Petrenko, this special concert was a "pilot project" initiated by the Berlin Senate. Its goal was to test the practicality of events using SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests for audience members. The antigen tests were free to concert-goers, distributed at partner testing centers before the event.

Patrons of the Berlin Philharmonic were so eager to see that the orchestra was making a comeback, that the concert sold out within minutes of tickets going live.

Certain guidelines were still mandatory to attend this concert. Patrons brought their personalized ticket, a negative antigen test, face mask, and identity card.

VC Artist Noah Bendix-Balgley is concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic. After the concert this weekend, he said on his Instagram, "A special night. It felt SO good to play a concert for an audience finally! 1000 audience members, who all got tested and showed a negative test result to enter. Grateful for the initiative and hard work of the Berlin Phil organization to make it possible, and to the public, who we have missed so much."

 

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A post shared by Noah Bendix-Balgley (@noahviolin)