Though many economists believed it would reinvigorate the city's economy, it also led to massive depopulation and the loss of half a million jobs that depended in one way or another on the subsidies. In the long term, these may be replaced by new positions created by Berlin's status as Germany's capital. But in the meantime, the city has had to foot the bill for huge infrastructure investments. The Museum Island Site of the renowned Pergamon Museum of antiquities and three other museums undergoing renovation until work was abruptly halted this month. Under a plan designed to make savings, currently on hold, east Berlin's leading opera house, whose orchestra is under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, will merge with its western counterpart, the Deutsche Oper Theatre.
Berlin has six theatres which are partly municipally funded.