Berlin firemen battle to save Philharmonic building

BERLIN (Reuters) - Scores of firefighters battled to putout a blaze at the home of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra onTuesday that sent banks of thick smoke billowing from thecity's architectural landmark.

Around 170 firefighters and more than 30 vehicles weretrying to extinguish the fire, which broke out during anafternoon concert, the local fire brigade said.

Using saws, firefighters peeled back sections of theslanted roof to get closer to the fire, while flames beganflickering through gaps elsewhere in the covering in lateafternoon.

Musicians and visitors to the Philharmonie, a controversialdesign by Hans Scharoun completed in 1963, were not hurt inwhat was the first serious blaze at the building, police said.

"It makes you want to cry, to be honest," said 33-year-oldbaritone Christof Hartkopf as he looked at the burningbuilding.

Hartkopf said he was due to sing in a performance of HectorBerlioz's Te Deum conducted by Claudio Abbado this weekend.

Police cordoned off the angular, yellow concert hall, whichis renowned for its acoustics. As plumes of thick smoke spreadacross the city, scores of people gathered for a closer look.

Karsten Goewecke of the Berlin fire brigade told a newsconference inside a fireproofed section of the building thatefforts to extinguish the blaze would likely continueovernight.

Police said an investigation into what triggered the firewas in progress, but that it may have been caused by work beingcarried out on the roof.

Pamela Rosenberg, the orchestra's general director, saidshe hoped it could stage all of its planned concerts in Berlin.

"We're holding a crisis meeting this evening to look atwhere else we can go," she told the news conference.

The blaze was reported shortly before around 720 musicians,including 400 children, had been scheduled to rehearseBerlioz's Te Deum in the building, Rosenberg added.

"So thank God the fire broke out beforehand," she said.

The orchestra, which was founded more than 120 years ago,is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious. Britain'sSimon Rattle is its principal conductor.

Officials from the orchestra told a news conference allportable musical instruments had been removed to safety.

Berlin's fire brigade said there was no danger the roofwould collapse, but that the building was in danger. The extentto which water or foam could damage the interior was not clear.

The blaze appeared to have started between the roof and theinsulating materials beneath it, the fire brigade said.

(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Ralph Boulton)