Our next chapter of the event series Sustainable Listening together with Staatsoper Berlin combined culinary innovation and climate responsibility. Themed around the food system and the Planetary Health Diet, this unique gathering blended classical and electronic music, creating a sensory journey into the realms of food and sustainability.
Despite inflation hitting the gastronomy scene, Berlin continues to offer an impressive range of culinary delights from around the world and for different pockets. The city’s commitment to vegan and vegetarian cuisine is evident, although the numbers show there’s still progress to be made. With only 5% of restaurants being exclusively plant-based, and 20% offering vegetarian or vegan menus, Berlin’s food landscape reflects a growing, shift towards sustainable eating.
The Planetary Health Diet – A solution to combat climate change
Last week marked another engaging edition of Sustainable Listening, the innovative concert and climate talk series by iHeartBerlin in collaboration with Staatsoper. This event brings together scientific experts and artists for an evening dedicated to climate issues. The focus this time was on the profound impact of our food system on the climate. A critical highlight was the discussion around the global meat industry, a major contributor to the climate crisis. Our speaker from Prof. Herman Lotze-Campen shed light on current challenges within our food systems, emphasizing the urgent need to shift towards less meat consumption. Central to his talk was the Planetary Health Diet, a concept advocating for a higher intake of legumes and exploring novel protein sources, presenting itself as a promising approach to lessen our environmental footprint.
The highlight of the evening was an opulent vegetable-based baroque feast, challenging the traditional meat-centric celebrations. Food artist Eleonore Buschinger, known for her personalized food delivery service ‘Eat Vitamin Color‘, crafted an exquisite menu that gave joy to our taste buds. The right drink was offered for a donation from BRLO. They produce an emission-free beer which is also non-alcoholic.
Sensorial Harmony of Food and Music
The event’s success was also owed to the performances by the Orchester des Wandels from Staatsoper Berlin and the electronic duo Gebrüder Teichmann. Their music underscored the event’s message: addressing climate change is a collective journey that can be enriched and inspired through artistic expression.
This event was more than just a night of culinary and musical exploration. It was a call to action for a more sustainable future, starting with what we put on our plates. As we eagerly anticipate the next session in May 2024, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this experience unforgettable.
The next edition will be in May and you can already buy tickets for it.
Thanks to BRLO and to German Zero for supporting this beautiful event.



















by Claudio | Nov 16, 2023 | Art, Music, Theater
Berlin is not a city known for its love of stability and traditions. Things change rapidly, and what may be your favorite party or restaurant today could easily become dull and uninteresting tomorrow. As Berliners, we are spoiled with an infinity of options. However, there are certain events that should never be overlooked and genuinely deserve the label of “timeless.”
One of these rare gems is the annual free open-air concert, Staatsoper für Alle, which transforms Bebelplatz into a magnificent arena for classical music. Even if you haven’t been a fan of opera music in the past, attending this event may change your perspective. It’s similar to the effect of being in a stadium surrounded by devoted fans; eventually, the music will resonate with you.
Read on…
by Claudio | Jul 12, 2023 | Music, Theater
Advert.
As Summer returns, so does one of our favorite happenings: “Staatsoper für Alle” – the annual open-air that transforms Bebelplatz Unter den Linden into an open-air arena for classical music. With free admission, live performances, and a special pop-up picnic organized by us, our readers are in for an unforgettable experience.
I guess most of our iHeartBerlin readers have been to an open-air party, a festival, or any other kind of music experience you can have beneath the summer sky. But over the years, I noticed how many see classical music as something that can only be experienced behind closed doors in big concert halls and so on. But what if one of the biggest and central public spaces in Berlin would become an open-air concert venue?
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by Claudio | Jun 28, 2023 | Music, Theater
Constanza Macras is one of the creative souls of Berlin, who enriches our favorite city through her ideas and impulses. Born in Buenos Aires, she studied dance and fashion design before a good mix of coincidence and purpose led her to Amsterdam, New York and, finally, to Berlin. In 2003 she founded the DorkyPark Company, an interdisciplinary ensemble that works with dance, text, live music, and film. In their latest piece DRAMA, which celebrated its premiere in January, a group of performers explores the possibilities of stage space in the post-pandemic age, probing the relationship between real stage space and virtual networks.
I had the chance to ask Constanza a few questions for iHeartBerlin about her new piece, her life, and her perspectives on the arts scene.
This week you can watch both DRAMA and their previous production The Future at Volksbühne on June 22 and 23.
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by Paula | Jun 19, 2023 | People, Theater
photos: Frank R. Schröder.
When I entered the main stage of the Sopiensaele theater on Wednesday evening and saw the three performers of Olympia Bukkakis’ new production “replay” twirling around in a set of silky white and translucent fabrics hanging from the ceiling like clouds I thought to myself: This must be a queer version of heaven.
The piece poses the question: What would happen if a drag queen and two non-binary performers would take charge? It would be a world where women like Breonna Taylor and Mahsa Amini would never be forgotten. A world where people from different backgrounds learn from each other in harmony. Where local drag queens get recognition before international pop stars. Where someone could break out in a Britney performance at any given moment. Where empathy, reflection, humor, and kindness are practiced with grace.
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by Frank | Feb 3, 2023 | Theater
photos: Frank R. Schröder.
Dear iHeartBerlin readers, it’s time to grab your popcorn and your drama glasses, because the newest production at the Volksbühne Berlin is about to give you a front-row seat to the drama that goes on behind the curtains.
Constanza Macras, the queen of theatrical chaos, has once again outdone herself with her latest masterpiece, DRAMA. This performance is not for those who prefer their theater neat and tidy. No, this one is for those who live for the drama, both on and off-stage. If you have never seen a piece by Macras, Drama might be your time to start.
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by Claudio | Jan 31, 2023 | Theater
After two years of a compromised festival due to pandemic restrictions, this Tanz im August 2022 festival edition finally brings all the international dance artists back to Berlin to celebrate the art of contemporary dance. We made a list of the pieces we really look forward to watching.
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by Claudio | Aug 4, 2022 | Theater
photos: Julieta Segura.
The body of a dancer must be perfect, right? This common prejudice and also restrictive view on dance performers and their bodies was critically questioned by the latest performance piece called Æffective Choreography by Andre Uerba. . The premiere took place last weekend at Radialsystem and it was sold out many weeks before. But for everybody who missed it, we have a couple of impressions from the general rehearsal of the performance.
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by Claudio | Aug 2, 2022 | Art, Theater
photos: Julieta Segura.
No matter how happy or miserable, wealthy or poor, we all came from the same place – the vulva. Performer Dani Brown states in her newest Performance “The Pressing” at Radialsystem this weekend the question how our world would be if the female sexual and reproductive organ would be on center stage.
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by Claudio | Jul 29, 2022 | Art, Theater
Sponsored
Summer Season is finally back and with it comes one of our favorite events of the year. “Staatsoper für Alle” – the yearly open air classic festival that takes over Bebelplatz Unter den Linden is finally back in its full form. No tickets needed, no restrictions regarding Covid anymore and we have a special picnic pop up waiting for our readers.
Read on…
by Claudio | Jun 13, 2022 | Music, Theater