Berlin’s big beasts face 12% cuts

The Berlin Philharmonic will need to find $2 million to cover a looming cut in city funding.

The world-famous Schaubuehne theatre says it will have to shut down at the end of 2025.

The Berliner Ensemble is cancelling five productions.

The Komische Oper has been told to scrap its long-mooted rebuilding. No word yet on the two bigger opera companies.

The Berlinale film festival has seen its subsidy halved.

Some of the outcry may be exaggerated but there is no denying that Berlin’s arts are facing their toughest winter since the wall came down. Interesting to see who will be their most effective vocal champion.

Joe Chialo, the city’s cultural senator (pic), is putting up no fight at all.