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You are here: Home Leisure Arts & Culture The Klassical Junkie: Paying Tribute to Berlin

03/11/2009The Klassical Junkie: Paying Tribute to Berlin

Expatica’s classical music reviewer, Sumi Somaskanda, previews the musical tribute marking the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This November presents a historic moment in German history, one that transcends the usual classical happenings in Germany that I share with you here. On November 9, Germany celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and there is no better time to appreciate the depth, quality and diversity found in the capital city’s classical scene. Of course, Berlin’s top musicians will play a part in remembering the historical significance of the day. And while many ensembles or musicians are dedicating performances to the anniversary, the city’s very best, the Philharmonic, will be leading the way.

The Berlin Philharmonic and the Konzerthaus Orchestra have teamed up to create a chamber music concert series that serves as a powerful tribute to the concepts surrounding the anniversary: reunification, peace and freedom. The series consists of six concerts that highlight a variety of small ensembles, all of which are made up of musicians from both the Philharmonic and the Konzerthaus Orchestra -- including the Venus Ensemble Berlin, the Quintett Chantily and the Finsterbusch Trio.

Photo source youtube footage
Berlin: the Konzerthaus

But it’s the musical vision behind the concerts that, in my opinion, sets this tribute apart. Not only will the ensembles perform classical greats, they’ll also unveil six brand-new compositions written by a group of composers who represent “New Berlin.” These artists all wrote music in the formerly divided Berlin, either in the East or the West. The series organizers want the impact of the music, and its message, to extend well beyond November 9, as the last four concerts take place well into 2010.

The opening concert featured the music of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Erhard Grosskopf, a Berlin-born composer whose large body of work has been described as “expressive” and “haunting.” While that concert is behind us, you still have a chance to catch the second performance in the series at the Konzerthaus on November 4. The Quintett Chantily shares the stage with the Venus Ensemble and pianist Cordelia Höfer.

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