Music theory brought to life
Sinfonie – ein viersätziges Werk für Orchester, deren einzelnen Sätze sich im Tempo, Charakter und in der Form unterscheiden und schließlich doch zu einem harmonischen Ganzen verschmelzen. Daran muss ich beim Besuch für die neuen Zwischenzeilen beim „Werftsommer“ in der Kulturwerft Gollan im Rahmen des Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festivals sofort denken. Sinfonie oder auch Zusammenklang: beim Werftsommer passt einfach alles perfekt zusammen.
ALLEGRO – THE SHMF
The first movement, which establishes the theme and the key. Fast-paced, lively, cheerful, joyful. All these adjectives perfectly describe Germany's largest classical music festival. What seems obvious to us today was almost revolutionary in 1985: when the festival idea was born, the aim was to bring musical experiences directly to the people and leave the "hallowed halls" of classical music. To become more accessible. Since then, it has been associated with great names such as Bernstein, Menuhin, Mutter, Lang Lang, Rostropovich, and Netrebko, to name just a few. Following the country-specific focuses, composer retrospectives and artist portraits are now integral components.
There are weekend workshops for children and young people led by renowned artists such as Grubinger, Landgren, and Meyer. The concerts, performances, and readings now enliven more than 100 venues in northern Germany, including in neighboring Denmark. In my mind's eye, I see ladies in hats with beautifully filled picnic baskets at the music festivals on magnificent estates in the most beautiful corners of Schleswig-Holstein. Since 1986, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival has matured into a magnificent, diverse cultural offering that dares to break new ground and embraces musical styles that don't automatically carry the label "classical."
ANDANTE – THE GOLLAN CULTURAL WAREHOUSE
Der zweite Satz, der in einem mäßig langsamem Tempovorgetragen wird. Gelassen. Ruhig. Attribute, die zur Kulturwerft Gollan und den Menschen passen, die dem historischen Industriekomplex neues Leben einhauchen.
The Gollan shipyard looks back on a long and eventful history. It enchants me every time I visit with its unique, almost morbid charm, unparalleled in Lübeck. Brick-red halls, details of steel and iron, rust, and broken windows stand in vivid contrast to modern glass facades and state-of-the-art lighting and stage technology. Far from being a lost place.
Much more than just an industrial monument, it has been revived by entrepreneur Thilo Gollan. Since 2014, he has been carefully developing the dilapidated halls into a venue focused on culture and community. Where ships were once built and repaired, there is now space for concerts, readings, trade fairs, and corporate events. It also hosts graduation balls and discussions with candidates for Chancellor, as was the case in 2017 and again in 2021. For several years now, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival has also used the Gollan Cultural Shipyard as a performance venue.
SCHERZO – THE SHMF SHRF SUMMER
"A piece of music of a light and cheerful character, in which humor and playful moods engage in a lively game with the emotions." That's what the musicological lexicon says.
In diesem Jahr haben das SHMF und die Kulturwerft Gollan mit dem „Werftsommer“ erstmals gemeinsam ein Open-Air Format realisiert und die Stimmung war mehr als heiter. Glückliche Gesichter in strahlendem Sonnenschein. In der relaxten Atmosphäre ergaben sich Gespräche mit den auftretenden Künstler:innen wie von selbst. Das Freigelände ist einfach prädestiniert für ein Musikabenteuer mit kreativen Singer-Songwritern. Bei einer leckeren Bionade im Schatten des Bunkers, eines ehemaligen Werk-Luftschutzgebäudes, schweift der Blick über Bahnwaggons und Lagerhallen in die Ferne zu den Türmen von St. Jakobi und St. Marien.
The festival's location in this historic spot, within sight of Lübeck's old town, enhances the musical experience even further. I'm so thrilled that Lübeck isn't presenting itself here from a superficially beautiful perspective, but rather from a "that's life" point of view. Authentic and a "work in progress".
"With the Werftsommer festival, the SHMF has created a format that fits perfectly into the shipyard halls and the open-air area: unique and a bit more experimental with alternative genres, a great supporting program, and diverse, regional food stalls. This is exactly the kind of festival we were missing here. We're looking forward to more of it. It felt so good to hear live music again, sit in the sun, and simply enjoy that special festival atmosphere."
Thilo Gollan, founder and operator of the Kulturwerft
Allegro Finale – A cultural stroll through steel and brick halls
Die Gollan-Hallen 5 und 9 bieten zum Werftsommer die Chance, sich durch liebevoll gefertigte Kunst zu stöbern, Alltagspoesie der Bücherpiraten aus dem Kaugummiautomaten zu entdecken, mit der Handlettering-Künstlerin Babette Büttner zu schnacken oder in einem zum Guckkasten umgebauten Pferdeanhänger unter dem Motto „Screen in a box“ ein flüchtiges audiovisuelles Erlebnis der Künstler Andreas Dorau, Sönke Held und Anne Schulte zu genießen.
Viele der Angebote werden im Rahmen de Initiative Kulturfunke präsentiert. Kulinarische Highlights sind u.a. das selbstgemachte Eis von den Soulmates, frischgemachte Fischbrötchen von fangfrisch, Kaffeespezialitäten der Cycle Roasters und Cupcakes von Bäcktakulär.
Several more concerts are taking place at the Kulturwerft Gollan until August 2nd. Don't miss them! Here's the SHMF program:
