The Philharmonie is located at the Kulturforum, just eight minutes' walk from Potsdamer Platz, and has been one of the world's most celebrated concert halls since 1963. Hans Scharoun's design was radically unconventional for its time: the orchestra sits at the center, the audience surrounding it on all sides. No stalls, no gallery, no clear front-to-back divide. Instead, 2,440 seats arranged around the stage like vineyard terraces.

This is where the Berlin Philharmonic performs its program from September through June. Under chief conductor Kirill Petrenko, the ensemble has further cemented its reputation. Anyone who experiences the Philharmonic live understands why tickets are often sold out months in advance.

The venue offers more than the grand evenings in the Great Hall. The smaller Chamber Music Hall hosts chamber concerts that often provide a more intimate window into the repertoire. The Digital Concert Hall streams selected concerts live and on demand to audiences worldwide — for those who can't make it to Berlin.

Photo Credits: Ivan Rohovchenko via unsplash