BERLIN (AFP) — Simon Rattle conducted a rehearsal of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra on Tuesday for the first time since a large fire two weeks ago at the orchestra's home, a spokeswoman for the venue said.
Monday night also saw a concert by the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, the first performance since the blaze at the Philharmonic in the centre of the German capital on May 20, spokeswoman Marie-Louise Schneider told AFP.
Around 150 firefighters fought for hours to put out a blaze that saw grey smoke billow from the iconic 1960s building's roof.
Several hundred concert-goers along with musicians clutching instruments were evacuated.
The Philharmonic's main auditorium, where the acoustics are considered among the best in the world, escaped serious damage.
The roof has now been temporarily repaired and will be fully restored by the end of the year, Schneider said.
Designed by architect Hans Scharoun and opened in 1963, the Philharmonic has hosted some of the world's best-known conductors. Its design influenced the construction of many other concert halls.
During the past two weeks concerts have been held at alternative venues, including at Tempelhof, the historic central Berlin airport expanded under Hitler and the hub of the 1948-49 Berlin airlift.
Rattle and the orchestra rehearsed Richard Wagner's opera "Siegfried" ahead of performances at a festival in Aix-en-Provence, France in late June and early July.
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