Held every July in the lovely city of Berlin, the Classic Open Air Festival is a beautiful blending of opera, classical and pop-symphonic productions. It's no wonder why the festival draws thousands of spectators every summer. The Classic Open Air Festival not only features stunning musical presentations but also takes advantage of the picturesque background of Berlin – one of Germany's gorgeous jewels. Crowds of enthusiastic visitors wander through the Gendarmenmarkt Square; grab a drink and a snack; admire the historic landmarks; and await the first notes of the much-anticipated music.

Getting There

To get to the Gendarmenmarkt Square where the famous festival is held each year, you can take the underground "U2" to the station Stadtmitte or Hausvogteiplatz/Underground U6 to Franzosische Straße. There, you'll find taxis. If you drive to the event, you'll find parking underground at FriedrichstadtPassagen. Enter at either Tauben or Jagerstraße. The APCOA Autoparking offers visitors of the festival a special parking rate if you present your concert ticket to the parking attendant. It won't work at the parking ticket machines.

Also, if you need overnight lodging, the Hilton Hotel located at Mohrenstraße 30, 10117 Berlin, sometimes offers a special deal for festival goers, including concert tickets, lodging and breakfast. It can be booked at Berlin Hotels.

History and More

Every summer since 1992, the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin becomes a grand concert arena, attracting national and international musicians, artists, media and music enthusiasts. Many of the concerts garner much media attention. In fact, some of the concerts are televised in more than 60 countries and on every continent, allowing millions of music lovers the opportunity to experience the Classic Open Air Festival from the comfort of their own living rooms.

From Italian opera to crossover productions featuring pop, swing, soul and jazz – all musical tastes are sure to be satisfied. Year after year, the festival offers up star-studded line-ups such as: Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, Roberto Alagna, Lucia Aliberti, Ramon Vargas, Marcelo Alvarez, the king of Klezmer Giora Feidman, The Scorpions, the Buena Vista Social Club, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Chris de Burgh, and the Supremes to name a few. Another crowd-pleasing aspect of the concert festival is the light, laser and fireworks special effects that have been worked into the drama of certain productions.

Because of the festival's intricate and sophisticated concert experiences, it received the "LEA-Live Entertainment Award" in 2006, and that probably won't be its last award if the critics are right. Many noted reviewers have come to expect the best international soloists, orchestras and dancers at the Classic Open Air Festival, and so far, they've never been disappointed. Neither will you, so go and enjoy!