Firefighters work into night as orchestra's iconic home burns

Published on Tuesday 20 May 2008 22:16

SCORES of firefighters battled to put out a blaze at the home of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra yesterday that sent banks of thick smoke billowing from the city's architectural landmark.

About 170 firefighters and more than 30 vehicles were trying to extinguish the fire, which broke out during an afternoon concert, the fire brigade said.

Using saws, firefighters peeled back sections of the slanted roof to get closer to the fire, while flames began flickering through gaps elsewhere in the covering in late afternoon.

Musicians and visitors to the Philharmonie, a controversial design by Hans Scharoun completed in 1963, were not hurt.

"It makes you want to cry, to be honest," said 33-year-old baritone Christof Hartkopf as he looked at the burning building.

Police cordoned off the angular, yellow concert hall, which is renowned for its acoustics.

Karsten Goewecke of the Berlin fire brigade said efforts to extinguish the blaze would likely continue overnight.

Police said an investigation into what triggered the fire was in progress, but it may have been caused by work being carried out on the roof.

Pamela Rosenberg, the orchestra's general director, said she hoped it could stage all of its planned concerts in Berlin.

"We're holding a crisis meeting to look at where else we can go," she said.

The blaze was reported shortly before about 720 musicians, including 400 children, had been scheduled to rehearse Berlioz's Te Deum in the building, Ms Rosenberg added.

"So thank God the fire broke out beforehand," she said.

The orchestra, which was founded more than 120 years ago, is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious. Britain's Sir Simon Rattle is its principal conductor.

All portable musical instruments had been removed to safety.