"This is the classical center of the city. What was originally a theater, constructed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel from 1818 to 1821, stands on the historic Gendarmenmarkt square. It was destroyed in WWII and eventually reopened in 1984 as a concert house with three halls in which about 550 events are now held each year. The most important contributor to each concert season is the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester (BSO), under the leadership of the head conductor Eliahu Inbal." -- http://www.konzerthaus.de/konzerthaus_englisch/index2.html
The original building was constructed at the request of King Friedrich II. Following a renovation by Carl Gotthard Langhans, it became the National Theatre. After it was gutted by a fire, the theater was rebuilt by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and renamed Schauspielhaus. The structure was badly damaged during World War II. It was restored and reopened in 1984.
Keywords: Germany, Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, performing arts structures. Submitted by Sandhya Kochar.