My musical box of chocolates
And it's festival summer again. Every year, my anticipation for the release of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival program grows months in advance. Every year, I try to put together a concert mix of familiar and new acts. In 2022, more than 200 concerts with around 3,000 participating musicians will be offered.
The concert season between the seas reminds me of the famous quote from "Forrest Gump": " Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. " At the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, you very often get exactly the chocolate you love, and everything is perfect. Sometimes your favorite concerts are already sold out, and you opt for one that still seems like a good fit. Like the chocolate that isn't your first choice in the box but then surprisingly tastes fantastic. And of course, there's also the kind you don't really like, but you end up putting it in your mouth anyway, and you're not surprised that it doesn't blow you away.
Starry Night – Percussion Heaven at the Hasselburg Cultural Estate
Indeed, one of the treats from my box had caught my eye because of the daring combination of pieces on the program: AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and Brahms' "Lullaby." How on earth could that possibly work together? Gut Hasselburg, bathed in summer sunshine, presented itself exactly as festivalgoers love it: lush green and brick red, stately yet relaxed. Everywhere, people with picnic baskets were enjoying the lawns between the gatehouses.
In the barn, Alexej Gerassimez and the SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet demonstrated musical versatility and a spirit of experimentation. They led the audience through a "starry night" and distant galaxies. The project certainly demanded patience and a degree of curiosity from the audience. During the first piece, " Rebirth ," I thought the musicians were still tuning their instruments. Later, I read the subtitle, "Exploring Chaos," and things became clearer.
The next piece, " Connectom ," explored what might happen if human consciousness were uploaded to a cloud. The three-movement work occasionally reminded me of Arnold Schoenberg's atonal period. But uploading consciousness certainly wouldn't be without occasional glitches, which is why this psychedelic composition by New Zealander John Psathas definitely gave one pause for thought. The subsequent "Lullaby" by Johannes Brahms , to whom this year's composer retrospective is dedicated, and John Williams' " Cantina Band" from "Star Wars" delighted the audience, as did Debussy's "Clair de Lune . " "Thunderstruck," by the way, fit perfectly into the program. It's fascinating how the AC/DC track manages entirely without Angus Young's famous guitar riffs. Percussion at its best!
Festival atmosphere with a view of the Baltic Sea
I certainly didn't want to miss the opening concert of the eleven -concert Lübeck Music Festival Atlantic Grand Hotel , and especially its ballroom, provided a stylish setting that made it easy for me to mentally travel back to Vienna in the time of Johannes Brahms. The stucco ceilings, the magnificent chandeliers, and the unique view of the Baltic Sea conjured up images of elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen swaying to a waltz.
the program; Brahms took center stage with his String Quintet in G major, Op. 111, and Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. violinist Pinchas Zukerman, who was already considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century and whom Daniel Hope has admired since childhood: "The music captivated my ears, my heart, and my soul," said Hope. I was particularly enthralled by the piano quintet, which sounded almost symphonic, brimming with energy and culminating in a passionate dialogue between the piano and strings. Magnificent!
And as a bonus, everything that makes a great concert evening for me was included: Daniel Hope's gleaming patent leather shoes and the Canadian cellist Amanda Forsyth , as she played a cello by the Italian Carlo Giuseppe Testore from 1699. The page turner who Shai Wosner on the piano. The soft coughs from the audience during the pauses between movements. The almost imperceptible nods of the musicians' heads as they coordinated with one another. At the end, the audience in the sold-out hall gave a standing ovation. This evening was like a fine truffle with a subtle hint of chili.
Early and late at the Carlebach Synagogue in Lübeck
This Sunday afternoon was once again dedicated to Johannes Brahms. I know… His Cello Sonata Op. 99 and the Piano Trio in B major . The Piano Trio is my marzipan praline: not too sweet, with a tried-and-tested blend of light and dark premium cocoa chocolate. The trio is a true classic from his early years, which Brahms completely revised at the end of his life.
The choice of the Carlebach Synagogue as the venue underscores that "thinking outside the box" remains one of the festival's guiding principles. The Lübeck Synagogue was built between 1878 and 1880 on Oranienburger Straße, modeled after the New Synagogue in Berlin. During Kristallnacht in 1938, its interior was vandalized, but the building itself remained intact. The Nazis demolished the richly decorated Moorish-style facade, including its magnificent dome, leaving behind a simple brick structure. After the war, the synagogue resumed its function. I find it simply tragic that the Lübeck Synagogue requires round-the-clock police protection and that opportunities to visit it are so rare. What a joy, therefore, to be able to enjoy the Sunday concert in the prayer hall with its view of the Torah shrine.
Danger Dan 's concert on August 9th at the Werftquartier. He's known as a thoughtful rebel and self-critical rapper. I hope you're intrigued and will now eagerly delve into this year's program. There are definitely still tickets available!