2020/21

14 June 2021 | Digital guided tour theme path »Beethoven | Freedom«

The Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum) used the Beethoven anniversary year 2020 as an opportunity to take a look at the tense relationship between »Beethoven | Freedom« in a new thematic path in the permanent exhibition. Six stations addressed the political and ideological appropriation of Beethoven’s work and life as well as his concept of freedom and how this was reflected in his music. Education referent Daniel Sauer showed and explained to us in a digital guided tour performance posters and never seen before exhibits, such as a manuscript score of the »Marseillaise« and the invitation card to Beethoven’s funeral. An auricle-shaped setup illustrated how Beethoven used ear trumpets, conversation books, and a 19th-century innovation - the metronome - to try to maintain control of his works despite declining hearing. Other elements such as music and superimposed objects of comparison were used, via a tool we were able to fill in a tag cloud, took part in a small survey, and all our questions did not go unanswered either. We would like to thank the German Historical Museum and Mr. Sauer very much for their cooperation.

7 May 2021 | 2nd Livestream concert with members of the Orchestra Academy

Seven talented young musicians from the Orchestra Academy took the stage in the auditorium of our corporate member Bayer AG for an exquisite chamber concert for the second time on May 7. In a worldwide livestream, people on almost every continent followed the concert. Thus, the audience totaled nearly 21,700 people. You can watch the recording at any time on YouTube.

31 March 2021 | »ZwischenTöne« with Vincent Huguet and Dr. Detlef Giese

On the evening before the premiere of the production »LE NOZZE DI FIGARO« was broadcast on Mezzo-TV and via online stream on the website of the Staatsoper, we welcomed director Vincent Huguet and dramaturge Dr. Detlef Giese to an exclusive digital introduction to the work as part of our event series »ZwischenTöne« via Zoom. In a relaxed conversation, they explained the concept of the three-part Mozart-Da Ponte cycle consisting of »COSÌ FAN TUTTE«, »LE NOZZE DI FIGARO« and »DON GIOVANNI«, which is reinterpreted scenically by Vincent Huguet and musically by Maestro Barenboim. First pictures gave a deep insight into the directorial handwriting of the production. Members of all contribution groups were cordially invited to participate in this informative and sympathetic discussion. We thank Detlef Giese and Vincent Huguet for their time and this wonderful digital evening.

5 March 2021 | Livestream-Concert with members of the Orchestra Academy

Promoting young talent is an important part of the cultural commitment of our company member Bayer AG, because today’s young talents are the future of Germany’s and the world’s diverse cultural landscape. At present, these talents lack the opportunity to practice and consolidate their skills in front of an audience.

That’s why on Friday, March 5, 2021, the Group was giving members of the Orchestra Academy of the Staatskapelle Berlin the stage in the auditorium of the Berlin site. The rousing concert with varied instrumentation was available in a worldwide livestream and with over 12,000 people reached, it was a complete success. The artists themselves guided through the program with special features and personal anecdotes about the pieces.

We thank Bayer AG for the commitment and this wonderful performance opportunity for the young academy members.

The concert is still available on YouTube.

2 March 2021 | The Friends and Supporters at »CouchKultur«

As part of the network Junge Kulturvereine Berlin, we invited our Apollos in particular to the online talk series »CouchKultur«. In eight consecutive weeks (from February 23 to April 13, 2021), associations from various institutions presented themselves and gave insight into the cultural diversity of the city.

Under the topic »The Orchestra Academy – Tradition and Future of the Staatskapelle Berlin«, the Friends and Supporters gave a detailed and very personal insight into the talent factory. Andrea Bautista Pamplona from the coordination team of the Orchestra Academy told something about the genesis of the program as well as its special features and contents. Academy members Jamie White (bassoon) and Friedemann Slenczka (viola) shared their first-hand experiences of what makes the program special for them and how important the Academy’s support has been for the young talents, especially in the past year.

We would like to sincerely thank the three for the exciting and informative conversation as well as the detailed stories and answers to the many questions of the numerous participants.

12 February 2021 | Exchange with Artistic Director Matthias Schulz and online introduction to »JENŮFA« by dramaturge Benjamin Wäntig

On February 12, we invited members of all membership levels to another exchange with Artistic Director Matthias Schulz. Via the online platform Zoom, he reported in detail on the challenges of preparing the television and radio premiere of Leoš Janáček’s »JENŮFA« on February 13, 2021 under strict hygiene regulations and the impact on artists who have not been allowed to perform in front of or for an audience for a year. Even though no public events are allowed to take place in the Staatsoper until March 31, 2021, Matthias Schulz gave a small spark of hope for shortened and reduced FESTTAGE and the two still upcoming premieres of this season to those digitally present. Our members and all interested parties can expect the program preview for the 2021/2022 season at the beginning of June 2021.

Following on from Matthias Schulz’s report on the preparations for the premiere of »JENŮFA«, dramaturge Benjamin Wäntig presented this early opera by Janáček in more detail. Through ten years of work on the work, »JENŮFA« gives an insight into the compositional workshop of the Czech. Benjamin Wäntig clarified musical peculiarities as well as those of the literary model, explained why Czech operas cannot simply be sung as a German translation, and what connection Sir Simon Rattle, the production’s musical director, has to Janáček.

We sincerely thank Matthias Schulz and Benjamin Wäntig for their time and openness to all the questions posed.

18 December 2020 | Digital Opera Night

Shortly before Christmas, the Digital Opera Night was an entertaining conclusion to our digital offerings for Young Friends. Opera Dinners, an initiative of our Apollo Felix Elkmann, invited to this digitally cozy get-together via Zoom. Musical contributions by artists from all over the world, including Anna Kissjudit, mezzo-soprano and member of the International Opera Studio of the Staatsoper, contributed to this convivial, long and at the same time very entertaining evening. The association also auctioned off an exclusive visit to a performance in the Artistic Director’s Box.

3 October 2020 | Artsy Opera Aperitivo

For our Apollos Felix Elkmann organized an 3 October 2020 | Art&Antique Potsdam. At an aperitivo, young talents of the opera world with international stage experience could be experienced, who presented classics of the opera world from Bizet to Puccini to Lehár and Strauss. There were also opportunities for exchange and networking.

Beautiful weather as well as a first-class culinary and musical offer invited to stay in the idyllic inner courtyard. We would like to thank Felix Elkmann for the invitation to the Palais am Stadthaus in Potsdam and for his warm hospitality.

3 October 2020 | Art&Antique Potsdam

At the exclusive art and antiques salon Art&Antique you could admire modern and contemporary art as well as paintings and graphics, antiques, jewelry, design and art deco. After a personal welcome by hostess Sandra Mann, questions about exhibits of the 17 exhibitors did not go unanswered.

Beautiful weather as well as a first-class culinary and musical offer invited to stay in the idyllic inner courtyard. We would like to thank Sandra Mann for the invitation to the Palais am Stadthaus in Potsdam and for her warm hospitality.