Music city: Berlin

We've looked at some great music cities so far in this series, focussing on the likes of Memphis, Chicago, New York and London. The German capital, Berlin, might not immediately spring to mind when thinking of the great musical cities of the world but it's one that is growing in popularity as a destination for music lovers of all genres. Music in Berlin covers everything from opera and classical to electronic and underground music, as well as concerts from popular artists such as Chris Rea, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds and Sting.

The Berlin music scene traditionally centres around three main opera houses, the oldest of which was built in 1742 and is still in use. The city is home to six philharmonic orchestras and many choral ensembles, highlighting the importance of classical and operatic music to the city, that is still evident today. This is contrasted by a huge growth in popularity for the city's clubs and alternative music venues, and indie, rock and electronic music fans from across the world come to the city to experience its flourishing underground scene.

Huge music scene

There are a huge number of Berlin music venues, from the opera houses of Deutsche Oper and the Komische Oper, to the famous nightclubs, such as Panorama and Weekend. There are also larger venues that put on gigs for big international stars - the Admiralspalast theatre and the O2 World Berlin, for example, have recently hosted concerts by the likes of The Beach Boys, Simple Minds and Snow Patrol.

On top of all this, Berlin has a reputation for being a laid back city, offering a great lifestyle and masses of culture - there are dozens of art galleries and museums to explore, as well the opportunity to experience the story of the city first hand and its place in bringing Germany back to a unified state after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Date: 20/02/2012