Plumes of smoke ascended from the roof of the Berlin Philharmonic, the building designed in 1963 by architect Hans Scharoun and the home to the world-famous orchestra of the same name.
The fire was reported shortly before 2 p.m.
local time on Tuesday, May 20. Some 110 fire fighters arrived at the Potsdam Square location in central Berlin to combat the blaze.
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The roof of the building was badly damaged and perhaps completely destoyed. Reinforcements were later called in to try to save the main concert hall from the smoke and flames.
The flames broke out at the same time as a mid-day concert. The audience was evacuated, and there were no reports of casualties.
Musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, who were about to rehearse, were also told to leave the building -- according to one report this group included conductor Claudio Abbado. Members of the orchestra reportedly pleaded with fire fighters to save priceless instruments that were still inside the building.
Bildunterschrift: An aerial view showed the extent of the fire Police say the blaze seems to have started in a luxury box near the attic of the building. A Philhamonic spokesperson said welding work, which was being done to the building, may have sparked the fire.
(Deutsche Welle)
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