A twisty day-- one was that fittingly matched by the weather. It rained off and on all day, and the wind was "blowing hard". Sadly, I was not wearing my rainboots, and this day was the only opportunity so far to justify me bringing them. Schade (what a pity).
We went on an Exkursion (excursion) to an exhibition called "Topography des Terrors". Located by Potsdamer Platz, the empty lot was the site of the Gestapo, SS, and SD buildings, the heart of Hitler's operations. This is a view of a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, and behind, in front of the Museum, is a temporary building, the exhibit, and the complicated remains of a troubled history.
Next to the controversial site was this Berliner Bär, one of many one can find around Berlin. This one stood alongside what used to the Reich Air Ministry-- the only surviving major building from the Nazi era. Again, one of the main arteries of the regime.
On a slightly more upbeat note, we went to Konzerthaus Berlin (Shauspielhaus) to hear a performance to hear a new composition by Elliot Carter, followed by Mahler's 6th Symphony. I didn't care for the modern piece by Carter (there was also an unidentified instrument in the performance that none of us could figure out or understand), but Mahler's symphony was fantastic-- one of his earlier works, so it was more cheerful and happy than his later compositions (as he himself was slightly more upbeat and happy).
Hearing the music made me realize that is was ten years ago (10 years) that ECGC performed Mahler's 8th Symphony with the Boston Philharmonic in Boston Symphony Hall and Carnegie Hall. A lifetime ago, it seems.
We went on an Exkursion (excursion) to an exhibition called "Topography des Terrors". Located by Potsdamer Platz, the empty lot was the site of the Gestapo, SS, and SD buildings, the heart of Hitler's operations. This is a view of a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, and behind, in front of the Museum, is a temporary building, the exhibit, and the complicated remains of a troubled history.
Next to the controversial site was this Berliner Bär, one of many one can find around Berlin. This one stood alongside what used to the Reich Air Ministry-- the only surviving major building from the Nazi era. Again, one of the main arteries of the regime.
On a slightly more upbeat note, we went to Konzerthaus Berlin (Shauspielhaus) to hear a performance to hear a new composition by Elliot Carter, followed by Mahler's 6th Symphony. I didn't care for the modern piece by Carter (there was also an unidentified instrument in the performance that none of us could figure out or understand), but Mahler's symphony was fantastic-- one of his earlier works, so it was more cheerful and happy than his later compositions (as he himself was slightly more upbeat and happy).
Hearing the music made me realize that is was ten years ago (10 years) that ECGC performed Mahler's 8th Symphony with the Boston Philharmonic in Boston Symphony Hall and Carnegie Hall. A lifetime ago, it seems.
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