Nikolaisaal Potsdam

Concert goers will be surprised when they first enter Nikolaisaal Potsdam. Behind the baroque façade and a secluded courtyard they will find a modern concert hall with strange wobbling on the walls and flowered seats.

From parish hall to concert venue

The Baroque main façade dates back to the 18th century, when the building was still used as a residence. But behind this traditional front façade is a modern façade in rear, with its long narrow windows and windowsills at different angles that are reminiscent of a harmonium. The inside also offers an exciting contrast between yesterday and today.
The concert hall has already experienced numerous transformations and different uses. It was dedicated as a parish hall in 1909 after being built to plans by Berlin architect Richard Herzner. It was then enlarged in the 1930s. When the Nikolaikirche was rebuilt in 1981, the Nikolaisaal lost its role as a parish hall.

An unusual hall

It was only in 2000 that the Nikolaisaal got its present form and purpose. French architect Rudy Ricciotti designed the "third Nikolaisaal" as a symbiosis of various stylistic elements. His unorthodox handling of shapes and materials shows respect for the building's history and looks ahead with openness and progress. The strange wobbling on the walls are actually moulded plaster sound diffusers to improve the acoustics. And if you look more closely, you'll discover numerous references to musical instruments.

From classical to jazz stage and concert programme

And the programme at the Nikolaisaal is also an exciting mix of different styles.
The concert hall is a venue for various Potsdam musical groups such as

• Potsdam Chamber Academy
• Brandenburg State Orchestra
• Frankfurt State Orchestra
• Brandenburger Symphoniker and
• German Film Orchestra Babelsberg.

Regular concert series with high-profile international guests also add to the variety of programmes on offer. The hall is used for everything from cinema to concert hall to jazz workshop.