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Two hundred years ago, on May 26, 1821, today's Berlin Concert Hall was inaugurated as InchKönigliches SchauspielhausInch. Destroyed as InchPreußisches StaatstheaterInch during World War II, the building, located in eastern Berlin, was rebuilt during GDR times and reopened as InchKonzerthausInch in 1984. The premiere of Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz on June 18, 1821 was a highlight of the opening year. The work became his most popular opera and one of the key works of the 19th century. A few days later, the composer (who died at the age of only 40 in 1826), had another piece premiered at the InchKönigliches SchauspielhausInch his brilliant InchConcert Piece for Piano and Orchestra op.79Inch. This year the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, with it's principal conductor Christoph Eschenbach, will be celebrating these historic events. Weber holds a special place in the life of the great German conductor and pianist, as Der Freischütz was the first opera he saw at the age of ten. Eschenbach is being joined in this program, which combines overtures, arias and the famous concert piece, by two artists who reside at the Konzerthaus Berlin and are also Alpha artists soprano Anna Prohaska and pianist Martin Helmchen.
