Berlin’s Spring Calendar Bursts with Art, Science, Anniversaries and Three Long Nights
Los Angeles, February, 2010 – In 2010, Berlin continues to attract visitors with new highlights, special exhibitions, anniversaries, and more. Below some featured highlights for spring 2010.
â–º Luise. Life and Myth of a Queen
March 6 – October 31, 2010
She was beautiful, attractive, and above all very popular. Seeking political reform, and greatly opposing Napoleon, Queen Luise personified hope during the “hard times” in the beginning of the 19th century. For the 200th anniversary of her death, (1776-1810), three exhibitions will focus on different aspects of Luise’s life:
Luise. Life and Legend of a Queen will offer an extensive overview of the life and times of the legendary Prussian queen (Charlottenburg Castle, March 6 until May 30, 2010). Luise. The Queen’s Island World shows a contemporary interpretation of the queen and her times, staged at Peacock Island, one of the queen’s favorite retreats on the outskirts of Berlin (May 1 until October 31, 2010), and Luise. The Queen’s Clothes, exhibiting original outfits and accessories that belonged to the queen at the former summer residence of the royal family. (Paretz Palace and Coach House, July 31 until October 31, 2010). www.spsg.de.
â–º Frida Kahlo – Retrospective
30 April until August 9, 2010
Colorful paintings with a tragic motif: the works by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo are at the same time fascinating and distressing. In the first half of the 20th century she knew better than anyone else how to combine the enigmatic culture of her home country with her own traumatic experiences. The over 170 paintings and drawings showcased at the Martin-Gropius-Bau will be the most extensive exhibition of Frida Kahlo’s works to date. There will also be approximately 90 drawings, some of them hitherto unpublished, which reveal lesser-known aspects of the artist’s personality, including landscapes that metamorphose into sexual fantasies and subtly humorous plays on words and images. www.martin-gropius-bau.de
â–º Year of Sciences Berlin 2010
In celebration of a score of significant anniversaries of Berlin’s influential scientific institutions, the year 2010 is dedicated to the sciences in Berlin. The Berlin State Library turns 350, the Charité Hospital and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences both turn 300, Berlin’s Humboldt University will be 200, and the Max-Planck Society will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Throughout the year, more than 150 special events will focus on the anniversary year, including a central exhibition of the “Year of Science”, Knowledge of the World. 300 Years of Science in Berlin, which will be staged at the Gropius Building. Dedicated to the city’s three centuries of scientific history, the exhibition looks at famous scientists and scholars from Berlin, Nobel laureates, ground braking discoveries and significant inventions. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz worked in Berlin as the last great universal scholar, Einstein completed his Theory of Relativity and Konrad Kruse build his first computer in Berlin. “Knowledge of the Word” will feature these and other significant scientific events. September 24, 2010 until January 9, 2011. www.gropiusbau.de, www.berlinerfestspiele.de
A complete calendar of events will become available at www.wissenschaftberlin2010.de. Images can be downloaded at
http://www.wissenschaftberlin2010.de/presse/fotos/jubilare.html.
â–º Long Nights of Museums, Opera, and Science
Berlin’s bi-annual Long Night of Museums (details below) has long been wildly popular with locals and visitors alike (27,000 visitors in January 2010). The museum night is now complemented by two more exciting longs nights, all designed to put a special focus on Berlin’s diverse cultural and historical landscape:
Long Night of Opera and Theater
April 10, 2010
During the second Long Night of Opera and Theater, some 60 Berlin stages will demonstrate their variety, originality, and distinctiveness. From 7 pm until 1 am, they will offer a stream of short, approximately half-hour events allowing audience members to assemble their own journey of discovery through the Berlin opera and theater scene. The program offers not just “taster” visits, but also surprises for ardent theater fans. Shuttle buses will operate on seven different routes. The starting point and meeting spot is the Bebelplatz with an open-air stage, central box office, and information stand. www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de .
Long Night of Science
June 5, 2010
On the occasion of Berlin’s 2010 celebrations of the “Year of Science”, the Long Night of Sciences offers special access to scientific institutions in Berlin and Potsdam. From 5 pm until 1 am, some 70 institutions, ranging from laboratories, to libraries, to universities offer a large program of presentations, lectures, experiments, but also music, performance and theater. www.langenachtderwissenschaften.de (in German)
Long Night of the Museums
August 28, 2010
Around 100 museums, large and small, featuring established and new collections, open their doors from 6 pm Saturday evening until 2 am Sunday morning. Unique music, theater, and culinary events will enhance the permanent and temporary exhibitions and promise to make the nighttime museum visit a unique experience. With one ticket, patrons get unlimited use of a special shuttle bus service and admission to all participating venues and events. (www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de, www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de).
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Information on travel to Berlin is available on www.visitBerlin.de
February 5, 2010
Posted in: Germany