THE BALCONETTES am 11/12/2024 in Braunschweig

Welcome to the last BalFolk of this year at the Luther Church in the Cologne Südstadt – exceptionally on a Friday evening: With Christmas-appropriate dance melodies from France and Germany, Jul-Polskor and other Nordic, elf-like sounds of the “Tomtegubbarna”.

With a festive buffet – everyone is warmly invited to contribute something tasty and atmospheric!

And with live music from the heart of the local BalFolk scene – musicians from Jekna, KoAn, Harfenlicht, Rulex, Barock op de Deel, Kördeböfund Reinlender.

19:00-20:00h Dance introduction for beginners
20:00-23:00h Bal with live bands

Bring-Along Buffet – everyone is warmly invited to bring something simple as finger food. Drinks will be sold by the Luther Church team as at every event.

Everyone dances! In couples, in circles, in chains, in groups of several people or alone. Live music, fun, joy in movement and conviviality in a special atmosphere. This doesn’t sound like a dusty and rigid dance event – because it’s not. It is BAL FOLK!

BAL FOLK is one of the forms of participatory dance evenings in Germany, which is spreading more and more here. At BAL FOLK, dances from the French regions are normally danced to live music, with the mix of dances depending on what the band plays. It’s not about perfection, but about the joy of dancing – the dance of the day is practiced together at the beginning. Dancing offers a great balance to school, study, or work daily life.

The dances are suitable for everyone, whether with or without dance experience and completely without competition or performance pressure, as we know it from sports, for example. During the balls, dance partners are playfully swapped again and again, so no one needs fixed dance partners.
People of different ages, social and geographical-cultural backgrounds come together informally and dance – completely without a dress code. Everyone is invited to join in!

A project by BalFolk Köln in collaboration with Südstadtleben e. V.

Important information for people with disabilities
The main entrance has a step. On the opposite side of the main entrance, there is an accessible back entrance. Please use the path over the parking lot. The church is then completely accessible. Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair-accessible toilet available. We are happy to reserve a suitable place for you and your companion in the church. Please inform us in advance about your visit. Thank you.

Palace Church

Price: 12 €

Chouchane Siranossian, Violin and Moderation

Violin Icons

For all generations of violinists, they have always been seen as the ultimate musical high mass: Johann Sebastian Bach's six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. In addition to the depth of these solo manifestos, it is their dance-like lightness that fascinates and enchants. The Armenian baroque violinist Chouchane Siranossian, who is already one of the greatest virtuosos of the international baroque scene, dedicates herself to two of Bach's timeless modern strokes of genius. In addition to Sonata No. 1, which features a beautiful "Siciliana," there is the Partita in D minor, crowned by the famous "Chaconne." Bach biographer Philipp Spitta referred to this movement as the "Triumph of the Spirit over Matter". What he meant by that, Chouchane Siranossian now makes convincingly clear. Accompanying moderations help to better understand and enjoy the works even more.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Sonata in G minor BWV 1001 for Violin

Partita in D minor BWV 1004 for Violin

Brühl

2/16/2025
4:00 PM

Tickets

Ensemble Belvento

Julia Fischer / Sabine Gassner / Bernd Ibele / Julian Pfeil: Renaissance trombone
Martin Bolterauer: Cornett
Daniel Kartmann: Percussion
Johannes Friedrich: Organ

"Love and Battle"

Tielmann Susato: "Danserye"
Clément Janequin: The Battle of Marignan
William Byrd: Fantasie in A
Adriano Banchieri: Terzadecima sinfonia
Andrea Falconieri: Battalla de Barabaso, son-in-law of Satan
Michael Praetorius: Musarum Aoniarum from Terpsichore

Love and war – a contrast that has always shaped people's everyday lives. In the art of the Renaissance, this apparent contradiction played a central role and in Europe we are suddenly confronted again with war and its social consequences.
Armed conflicts and brutal power struggles were a constant threat to the population of the 16th century. Famous musical battle descriptions originate from composers of this time, as well as a variety of lively dances, heartfelt chansons, and madrigals depicting lovely scenes and idyllic landscapes. These works tell us a lot today about the ambivalence of this society and also show how closely romance and destruction can be intertwined.

Ensemble Belvento is a young ensemble for Early Music that has made it its mission to make the music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods more accessible and experiential to a wider audience. It is dedicated to the authentic performance practice of Renaissance and Baroque music, generating a rare original sound experience on historical instrument reconstructions. With great sensitivity, the ensemble not only appeals to connoisseurs of the genre but also includes visitors who are new to the world of Early Music.

Photo: ©Bernd Ibele

Possibly remaining tickets available at the box office.

Nagold

2/22/2025
7:00 PM

Tickets

from € 14.00

David Castro-Balbi & CHAARTS - "American Beauty"

A tribute to the rich musical heritage of North and South America.

Very American? Those who ask about the "real" American music have a problem. Which America, North or South, songs or film music, ballads or Broadway? This concert shows a small glimpse of this huge spectrum.

Antonín Dvorák's string quintet resonates with his connection to nature and his inclination towards sophisticated folklore. A musical reflection of his joy for the Bohemian compatriots in the US town of Spillville, where the composer spent the summer months of 1893 with his family.

George Gershwin's career unfolds as a classic American success story – from dishwasher to millionaire. Along with his brother Ira, he wrote America's first opera: "Porgy and Bess". At the peak of his career – not even 40 years old – Gershwin passed away. But his music is immortal and successful to this day.

Astor Piazzolla went to New York and later to Paris to become a classical composer. Fortunately, his teacher Nadia Boulanger "redirected" him back to his musical origins, the Tango – making him one of the greatest composers of South America. His "Four Seasons" are the essence of his genius. Piazzolla wanted to symbolize the pulse of the big city: his music brings bourgeois Buenos Aires to life before our eyes, condensing into a new tango, the soul of the city.

The press praises Castro-Balbi's virtuosity and his "nobly flowing, warm singing."

Program:
Antonín Dvorák (1841–1904): String Quintet op. 97, "American"
George Gershwin (1808–1937): 3 Préludes & An American in Paris
Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992): Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires)

With: David Castro-Balbi (violin)
CHAARTS

Concert subscription
Can be chosen as part of the open-air subscription

Lindau

3/13/2025
7:30 PM

Tickets

from € 12.00

5. Symphoniekonzert - Beziehungen

Relationships
5th Symphony Concert

Johannes Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn op. 56a
I. Theme. Chorale St. Antoni. Andante
II. Variation I. Poco più animato
III. Variation II. Più vivace
IV. Variation III. Con moto
V. Variation IV. Andante con moto
VI. Variation V. Vivace
VII. Variation VI. Vivace
VIII. Variation VII. Grazioso
IX. Variation VIII. Presto non troppo
X. Finale. Andante

Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1 in C Major Hob. VIIb:1
I. Moderato
II. Adagio
III. Allegro molto

Intermission

Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major op. 61
I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo
II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
III. Adagio espressivo
IV. Allegro molto vivace

Conductor: Andreas Spering
Cello: Astrig Siranossian

Brandenburger Symphoniker

"The composers of this program, purely from an inspirational perspective, live in an extremely fruitful ménage-à-trois. Various testimonies show that Joseph Haydn was one of Johannes Brahms' most important sources of inspiration - notably for his first major orchestral masterpiece, the Haydn Variations. Robert Schumann was also strongly influenced by Haydn, particularly in his second symphony, which directly references Haydn's Symphony No. 104. Schumann, in turn, was - not only through his wife Clara - a significant enrichment in Brahms' creative life." (Andreas Spering)

Astrig Siranossian was admitted to the Regional Conservatory of Lyon at the age of 8 and later continued her studies at the National Conservatory of Lyon. At just 18, she graduated with honors. Astrig Siranossian, winner of the First Prize and multiple special awards at the International Penderecki Competition, regularly performs as a soloist with leading orchestras. She is frequently invited by Daniel Barenboim and regularly performs with prestigious colleagues such as Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, or Yo-Yo Ma. Among her critically acclaimed recordings is the album "Duo-Solo," an alchemy of traditional melodies and dances with the classical repertoire, as well as the 2021 release on Alpha Classics of Camille Saint-Saëns' first cello concerto. In the same label, "Dear Mademoiselle," a tribute to Nadia Boulanger with pianists Nathanaël Gouin and Daniel Barenboim, was released in 2020, garnering significant international attention. Since 2015, Astrig has been the artistic director of "Musicades," a festival in her hometown of Romans sur Isère. This year, she also directs the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Festival in Trouville.

Concert introduction at 6:45 p.m. in the Grand House's foyer

Concert introduction at 6:45 p.m. in the Grand House's foyer

Brandenburg an der Havel

3/21/2025
7:30 PM

Tickets

from € 32.90

5. Symphoniekonzert - Beziehungen

Relationships
5th Symphony Concert

Johannes Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn op. 56a
I. Theme. Chorale St. Antoni. Andante
II. Variation I. Poco più animato
III. Variation II. Più vivace
IV. Variation III. Con moto
V. Variation IV. Andante con moto
VI. Variation V. Vivace
VII. Variation VI. Vivace
VIII. Variation VII. Grazioso
IX. Variation VIII. Presto non troppo
X. Finale. Andante

Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1 in C Major Hob. VIIb:1
I. Moderato
II. Adagio
III. Allegro molto

Intermission

Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major op. 61
I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo
II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
III. Adagio espressivo
IV. Allegro molto vivace

Conductor: Andreas Spering
Cello: Astrig Siranossian

Brandenburger Symphoniker

"The composers of this program, purely from an inspirational perspective, live in an extremely fruitful ménage-à-trois. Various testimonies show that Joseph Haydn was one of Johannes Brahms' most important sources of inspiration - notably for his first major orchestral masterpiece, the Haydn Variations. Robert Schumann was also strongly influenced by Haydn, particularly in his second symphony, which directly references Haydn's Symphony No. 104. Schumann, in turn, was - not only through his wife Clara - a significant enrichment in Brahms' creative life." (Andreas Spering)

Astrig Siranossian was admitted to the Regional Conservatory of Lyon at the age of 8 and later continued her studies at the National Conservatory of Lyon. At just 18, she graduated with honors. Astrig Siranossian, winner of the First Prize and multiple special awards at the International Penderecki Competition, regularly performs as a soloist with leading orchestras. She is frequently invited by Daniel Barenboim and regularly performs with prestigious colleagues such as Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, or Yo-Yo Ma. Among her critically acclaimed recordings is the album "Duo-Solo," an alchemy of traditional melodies and dances with the classical repertoire, as well as the 2021 release on Alpha Classics of Camille Saint-Saëns' first cello concerto. In the same label, "Dear Mademoiselle," a tribute to Nadia Boulanger with pianists Nathanaël Gouin and Daniel Barenboim, was released in 2020, garnering significant international attention. Since 2015, Astrig has been the artistic director of "Musicades," a festival in her hometown of Romans sur Isère. This year, she also directs the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Festival in Trouville.

Concert introduction at 6:45 p.m. in the Grand House's foyer

Concert introduction at 6:45 p.m. in the Grand House's foyer

Brandenburg an der Havel

3/22/2025
7:30 PM

Tickets

from € 32.90

Ensemble Classique - BRASSISSIMO – 35 Jahre Leonard Bernstein

BRASSISSIMO – 35 Years of Leonard Bernstein

W. Roch – European Fanfare
C. v. Reitzenstein – Festive Wind Music
T. Albinoni – Concerto in C Major
C. Gervaise – Old French Dances
M. de Falla / P. Tchaikovsky et al. – Classical Ballet
W. A. Mozart – Aria of Sarastro, “O Isis und Osiris” from “The Magic Flute”, Aria of the Queen of the Night, “Der Hölle Rache” from “The Magic Flute”
L. Bernstein – The Mass
D. Ellington – Echoes of Harlem, Solitude, It don’t mean a thing
J. Kosma – Autumn Leaves
L. Bernstein – West Side Story, Somewhere

The brass sextet Ensemble Classique was founded in 1986 in Bad Wörishofen. Since their grand debut at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in 1989, the ensemble has been touring the most important music metropolises around the globe. During their performances at renowned music festivals including Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, International Salzburg Festival Summer, Ludwigsburg Festival, as well as numerous open-air, castle, and church concerts, television appearances, and exclusive musical contexts, the artists convince with brilliant stylistic consistency and pronounced musical presence.
The unique homogeneous sound, technical brilliance, and superb musicality have quickly elevated Ensemble Classique to become one of the most internationally recognized, well-known, and popular brass ensembles of our time. As a musical ambassador for Rotary International, Winfried Roch composed the “Fanfare Rotary International,” which he dedicated to Rotary's world president Paul V. C. Costa for his commitment to the endangered rainforests. The work was premiered in Mexico in 1991. According to the quote from its pioneer Leonard Bernstein, “Let’s make music as friends,” the ensemble radiates an irresistible charm towards its audience on stage. Artists are popular when the audience believes they are not playing for themselves, but for the people who are listening to them. This is likely what creates the special magic when the brass sextet Ensemble Classique takes the stage. Ensemble Classique is equipped by the menswear label ROY ROBSON and exclusively plays on mouthpieces from J. Klier.

Tickets 34 € / 29 €, Students 5 €

Photo: Gregor Hohenberg

Bietigheim-Bissingen

4/3/2025
8:00 PM

Tickets

from € 29.00

BALBINA - mit dem Deutschen Filmorchester Babelsberg

The Warsaw-born musician BALBINA is known for her cinematic art-pop sound and stands pleasantly apart from the mainstream: word, image, and sound go hand in hand for the artist, her productions create spaces of perception where her melodies feel at home. That her niche is by no means too obscure but rather addresses a broad and interested audience is evidenced by her back catalog: BALBINA has released four albums and two EPs and usually performs with the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. Her single "Das Gefühl ist tot." released in February 2024 offers a first glimpse into the anticipated fourth longplayer "Infinity Tunes" expected in 2025.

"Das Gefühl ist tot.", her first release in four years, is a homage to digital apathy, according to BALBINA: "Everything I observe, write, formulate, stage, is an attempt to capture the present. Often we live as if we were immortal, planning years in advance, without even noticing how beautiful the sunset is right now."

In 2014, the artist debuted with the EP "Nichtstun", followed by her first album "Über das Grübeln" in the same year and achieved her breakthrough in 2017 with the longplayer "Fragen über Fragen". In 2018, BALBINA was awarded the German Music Authors' Prize as "Best Lyricist". After that, the musician started from scratch: "I wanted to be free. To break away from structures that challenged me to an eternal struggle."

The result was "Punkt.", the artist's third album: Moroseness about the ruthless transience of being met with powerful emancipation anthems and bittersweet confrontations with one's own weaknesses. On the album released in 2020, she sang not only in German but also in English for the first time.

The album was first presented during a performance at the sold-out Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, where BALBINA was accompanied by her band musicians and the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. It also became clear during the extraordinary hearing experience under the dome of the Berlin Zeiss Planetarium, where the musician impressed with monologues and atmospheric visuals: With "Punkt.", BALBINA had matured and found the strongest version of herself to date.

A logical development, as genre boundaries have always been completely irrelevant to the musician: "I believe that in German-speaking countries much thought is categorized into drawers to clearly differentiate content. But art actually lives from the freedom of creation."

BALBINA is considered one of the most promising talents and immense pop hopes in Germany due to her versatility - despite or rather because of her demanding music – successfully uniting apparent opposites with a sovereign self-assurance – she toured with Herbert Grönemeyer, was also part of the rap scene, and performed with Die Atzen.

"In the past, I had to fight through instances for my creativity to reach the listener unscathed," says BALBINA. That is history - she has long established herself as her own boss.

To kick off her new release cycle live, the artist invites audiences in 2025 to two larger-than-life shows with newly created stage design, costumes, and orchestra – one in Berlin at the Philharmonie and the other in Hamburg at the Elbphilharmonie – which will not lack subtlety amid the grandeur thanks to BALBINA's mindset.

Doors open: 19:00 Uhr

Berlin

4/9/2025
8:00 PM

Tickets

from € 35.00

Johann Blanchard präsentiert: Viva Espana - Das Mädchen und die Nachtigall

Joaquín Turina
Danzas Gitanas op. 55
1. Zambra
2. Danza de la seducción
3. Danza ritual
4. Generalife
5. Sacro-Monte

Isaac Albéniz
Iberia - First Book
1. Evocation
2. El Puerto
3. Fête-Dieu in Seville

Enrique Granados
From: Goyescas - Los majos enamorados (The Gallants in Love) op. 11
4. Quejas, o La Maja y el ruiseñor (Complaint, or the Girl and the Nightingale)

- Break -

Joaquín Turina
Danzas fantásticas op. 22
1. Exaltación
2. Ensueño
3. Orgía

Claude Debussy
From: Estampes
2. La soirée dans Grenade

From: Préludes Book 2
10. La puerta del Vino

Enrique Granados
Allegro de Concierto C-sharp Major op. 46

Admission: 16:30 Uhr

Binzen

4/13/2025
5:00 PM

Tickets

from € 30.00

Inspiration Baroque

The French spelling of the term “Baroque” was deliberately chosen for the title of this concert, as the program features exclusively works by French composers. But how do Baroque music and musical Impressionism fit together? Even though the sound language of Debussy or Ravel is entirely different, both were inspired by their Baroque predecessors, such as Rameau or Marais. This evening is all about that inspiration, for which Sebastian Wittiber, Anne Bertrand, and Dirk Niewöhner will juxtapose character pieces from representatives of both eras. The small chamber music gems transport the listener into a world of fantasy: With Rameau’s concert pieces, for example, we embark on a musical representation of pantomimic poses, encounter the dancers of Delphi with Debussy, or dive into a dreamy, indulgent sphere with the characteristic sound language of Ravel. The music will resonate in a magical setting for harp, flute, and viola, guaranteeing us as listeners an inspiring, inspired concert evening.

Instrumentation:

Anne Sophie Bertrand – Harp
Sebastian Wittiber – Flute
Dirk Niewöhner – Viola

Program:

Chamber music for harp, flute, and viola by Rameau, Marais, Debussy, Ravel, among others.

Doors open at 7:00 PM
with intermission