The new Kreuzberg institution will allow visitors to try out various machines

Synthesizer Museum Berlin has opened in the German capital, exploring history of electronic instruments and their influence music culture. 

Located in Kreuzberg, this temporary exhibition has a collection of more than 50 vintage, bespoke and unusual synthesisers made between the 1970s and 2000s.  

A sister project of the Synthesizer Studio Berlin — where professionals can record using similarly rare kit — the new visitor attraction will be “hands on”, allowing people to try out various machines. 

Expected to attract close to 14million people, 70% of whom will be Berlin tourists, regular concerts and workshops will run alongside the core exhibition program. These events kicked off with a live show by Thorsten Quaesching of Tangerine Dream and Düsseldorf producer and composer Kurt Dahlke, AKA Pyrolator, for the Grand Opening on Wednesday 12th February. 

Entry to the museum is €12, while specific performances are priced at €25. You can get tickets and further info here.

“Berlin is the perfect place to celebrate the history of the synthesizer and to make its cultural influence accessible to a wide audience,” said Michael Soltau, film composer and initiator of the museum. “From the ‘Berlin School’ with Tangerine Dream, to David Bowie’s ‘Berlin Trilogy,’ and the city’s vibrant techno scene, Berlin has played a key role in electronic music history.”

“This unique collection of genre-defining exhibits offers an exciting journey through time, showcasing the evolution of the instruments that have shaped pop music like no other,” added another spokesperson for the Synthesizer Museum Berlin.

In 2018, the Swiss Museum & Center for Electronic Music (SMEM) in Fribourg started a kickstarter campaign to create a ‘playroom’ for what is believed to be the world’s largest collection of synths.