How often have you thought “wouldn’t it be good to hear a top orchestra playing in our area without the necessity for long distance travel and expense?”You can achieve the goal with this app. There are new composers to listen to and musical pieces that take you out of your comfort zone. And if you really don’t like a performance, never mind, there are so many others to enjoy at a reasonable price. This app has opened up new experiences for us and during the pandemic it has been a great companion so much so we hope to be using the facility for years to come.

As you would expect from musicians at the top of their game, the musical content is as good as it gets. Also the production is superb and the films and interviews also excellent and full of interest. The big downside is that the app occasionally crashes part way through a performance and looses your place. This has been going on for a year despite reporting it to tech support, having an iPad Pro 3rd gen and always the latest versions of iPadOS and the app software, so unfortunately I have little hope this will be fixed soon. Today it crashed for me 3 times while listening to Mahler 3. It’s a real shame.

The app gives access to the video archive of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. It is easy to use and options are clearly laid out. The archive is large and full of treasures dating from the 1960s until the present day. Needless to say the quality of the music making is of the highest. The sound recording and the visuals are excellent too. You can listen to individual works, whole concerts or devise your own programme. There are accompanying programme notes and also interviews with performers and conductors. A first class production.

Up to the minute news and information presented in a clear and concise format. Excellent, accessible and varied content available - something for everyone and in these unusual and difficult times where we can all find a way to leave the cares of the world behind. All over the world people are having to grapple with huge changes to their lifestyles- music is a language we all understand and can share. Thank you to Digital Concert Hall for allowing us to escape to normality- if only for a short time!