We enter Berghain, a nightclub in a two-storied, industrial building at Wriezener Bahnhof in Friedrichshein, Berlin. The bottom floor is almost empty, with only a few stragglers, but it is packed on the second floor. People cluster around a small stage in the center of the room, waiting in anticipation for the concert to begin. Punctually, at 10:30, pm, the chamber ensemble Fauré Quartett launches into a program of Dvorak, Brahms and Mahler.

In the dimly lit room, the only light comes from the camera recordings that reflect shots of the quartet on the wall; they change constantly, at times focusing on the pianist's hands, then the violinist and viola player as they swing from side to side in synchronized movements. The recordings fade from color to black-and-white in a series of enigmatic shots.

The May 13th concert is part of Yellow Lounge, a series of classical music concerts that take place various night clubs in Berlin intermittently throughout the year.

In a more traditional venue for a classical concert, such as the Berlin Philharmonic, there is a respectful distance between the audience and the orchestra. An air of formality governs the event; most audience members are clad in appropriate evening wear, they join a half-hour reception for wine and pleasantries during the interval, they clap and cheer enthusiastically at the end of the performance, but not with the boisterousness of a rock concert.

At Yellow Lounge, there is almost no physical barrier between the musicians and the viewers; the audience crowds around the low stage in a sweaty, tightly knit group. No chandeliers or expansive stage of a more conventional venue detract attention from the musicians. The music itself takes on a different quality; it seems more fitting to play the eerie notes of Mahler in a dark, grey, industrial building than in a bright concert hall. The audience is hushed while the quartet plays and breaks into unrestrained cheers at the end of the performance. Even after the concert is over, classical music continues to play in the nightclub for the rest of the evening. To learn more about:

Yellow Lounge, go to http://www.yellowlounge.de/

Berghain, http://www.berghain.de/

The Fauré Quartett, http://www.faurequartett.de/