NEWSLETTER 02/21

Just as cheerfully as Jan and Hauke are playing here on the roof of the JazzHall—which is still under construction—the events of the coming days beckon us.

The opera production, symphony concert, and theater performance all seem temptingly normal and exude the atmosphere of a thriving three-genre venue. And what we’ve rehearsed under the strictest hygiene protocols can be enjoyed by you from the comfort of your own home:

On Friday, February 12, we’ll present Wagner’s music drama “Das Rheingold” with the singers from the opera class in a version adapted to the opera concisa format. Intended as a major summer opera, the entire work was scheduled to premiere last June but had to be canceled due to the pandemic.
With the meticulously rehearsed production directed by our new professor, Christian Poewe, featuring costumes designed and crafted by HAW students and a complete set, we can now look forward to a slightly abridged accompanied on the Steinway grand piano, lovingly captured for streaming by our webcast team.
Premiere fever is definitely in the air!

The university orchestra is now well-versed in performing during the pandemic and will be playing its sixth symphony concert via livestream on February 20. The program features Debussy’s “Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune,” Beethoven’s “Eroica,” and, surely the most interesting work of the evening, Henri Dutilleux’s “Sur la même accord” for violin and orchestra. The soloist for this work—originally dedicated to Anne-Sophie Mutter and premiered in 2002—is the young Viennese violinist Maxim Tzekov, who is currently studying with Prof. Tanja Becker-Bender.

Under the apt subtitle “NEVERTHELESS,” this year’s final projects in the Acting Directing program were brought together, and the title proves true in two ways: a first attempt was canceled for well-known reasons, but the second has now been saved via livestream and deserves attention “nevertheless,” “all the more so,” or (even better) “all the more”!
“Strandpenelum” is the last of five directing projects we’ll be presenting on February 27 at Kampnagel. This work by the young director Nora Kühnhold is a play developed for teens and young adults, for queer people and gangs, fantasy fans, and life, lesbian, and reading circles. Don’t miss it!

The circumstances continue to demand the utmost from us, but what we’re still managing to do—under the strictest precautions—nourishes us deeply, and we’re delighted to be able to share this with you.
Nothing can give us more strength than the symphonic sounds of an orchestra playing Beethoven, sounds that penetrate the tiniest cracks and measure, illuminate, fill, and bring every corner of a room to life.
This sustains us and is beyond all doubt.

Let us be united through art!
Your HfMT