Sarah Willis. The Sarahbanda Rondo alla Rumba

Sarah Willis & The Sarahbanda

Here comes the Sarahbanda, the Cuban band with a difference! Formed as part of the hugely popular »Mozart y Mambo« project and led by Sarah Willis of the Berlin Philharmonic, Sarahbanda explores the captivating dance rhythms of Cuba in a way that has never been heard before. The difference? Sarahbanda is the first salsa band to feature a French horn, and with their original compositions and stunning, exclusive re-arrangements of some of Cuba’s best-known songs, this band is taking the Cuban music scene by storm. This flavourful combination of Sarah Willis and some of Cuba’s most talented musicians creates a completely new sound that is fresh, innovative, danceable and simply irresistible.

Gabriela Montero Charlie Chaplins „The Immigrant“

Im Jahr 2018 erhielt Gabriela Montero den Heidelberger Frühling Musikpreis für ihren leidenschaftlichen Einsatz als Musikvermittlerin, gesellschaftliche Brückenbauerin und für ihre großartigen Improvisationen. Als Gastkünstlerin beim „Frühling“ wird sie stets warmherzig von ihrem Publikum empfangen. Doch die Venezolanerin, die seit vielen Jahren fernab ihrer von Krisen erschütterten Heimat lebt, kennt das Fremdsein nur zu gut und hat diesem Gefühl ein Rezital gewidmet. Zu hören sind die Werke von drei Russen, deren Biografien ebenfalls durch ein Leben im Exil geprägt waren: das groteske Lachen Prokofjews, die nüchterne Tonsprache Strawinskys und die Musik des missverstandenen Rachmaninow, dessen Melodien nur allzu oft verramscht wurden. Sie münden in den Chaplin-Stummfilm „The Immigrant“, zu dem Montero live improvisieren wird.Das Konzert endet mit einer Live-Improvisation zum Stummfilm „The Immigrant“ von Charlie Chaplin.Im Anschluss findet ein Künstlergespräch mit Anselm Cybinski im Festivalzentrum statt.*Restored by Lobster Films and Cineteca di Bologna under the aegis of Association Chaplin © Film Preservation Associates Inc., 2012, © Lobster Films

The Naghash Ensemble Songs of Exile

In the 15th century, Armenian priest and poet Mkrtich Naghash wrote about his exile experiences. The resulting poems, with their powerful language, captivated Armenian-American John Hodian. He decided to set these exile songs to music and bring them to the stage with a specially founded ensemble. Hodian leads the Armenian Naghash Ensemble from the piano, inspiring by old Armenian church and folk music, minimal music, and jazz.

Sarah Christian Antonio Vivaldi

Birdsong, trickling streams, rainy weather, barking dogs, and frozen landscapes. These are just some of the natural phenomena Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) describes in the violin concertos The Four Seasons, first published in 1725.Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice and spent most of his life there. He was a renowned music teacher, opera composer, and, not least, one of the best violinists of his time. He wrote several hundred concertos, over 200 of which were for his own instrument.The Four Seasons was released along four poems telling what the concertos describe. Spring is characterized by birdsong, flowering meadows and happy spring dancing. Summer opens with more bids - not least the cuckoo - and oppressive heat followed by thunderstorms. Autumn begins with the farmers celebrating the harvest with song and dance before hunting in the third movement. Winter opens with an icy wind, and then it’s cozy in front of the fireplace while it is raining in the second movement. In the final movement, we end up on the ice.The Four Seasons was Vivaldi’s greatest success. Gradually, his popularity declined, and after his death, his music was little played. Interest flourished in the 20th century, and since the Second World War, The Four Seasons has been among the most popular classical music.

Sarah Christian Antonio Vivaldi

Birdsong, trickling streams, rainy weather, barking dogs, and frozen landscapes. These are just some of the natural phenomena Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) describes in the violin concertos The Four Seasons, first published in 1725.Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice and spent most of his life there. He was a renowned music teacher, opera composer, and, not least, one of the best violinists of his time. He wrote several hundred concertos, over 200 of which were for his own instrument.The Four Seasons was released along four poems telling what the concertos describe. Spring is characterized by birdsong, flowering meadows and happy spring dancing. Summer opens with more bids - not least the cuckoo - and oppressive heat followed by thunderstorms. Autumn begins with the farmers celebrating the harvest with song and dance before hunting in the third movement. Winter opens with an icy wind, and then it’s cozy in front of the fireplace while it is raining in the second movement. In the final movement, we end up on the ice.The Four Seasons was Vivaldi’s greatest success. Gradually, his popularity declined, and after his death, his music was little played. Interest flourished in the 20th century, and since the Second World War, The Four Seasons has been among the most popular classical music.

Sarah Wegener | Götz Payer

According to Theodor Fontane, happiness lies in small things, which could also describe songs. Soprano Sarah Wegener explores this happiness in her Cologne concert. She performs songs like Richard Strauss's "Traum durch die Dämmerung," which questions where happiness lies. Wegener, known for her intense performances, joins pianist Götz Payer in this pursuit of happiness.

Lied concert with Sarah Connolly

The highly acclaimed English mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly has held the title of Dame Sarah since 2017. Her opera career has been long and successful, spanning from the Baroque to contemporary repertoire. Among the many celebrated productions she has been involved in are Mozart's Titus at the English National Opera, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at La Scala in Milan, and Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.Alongside her opera career worldwide, art song has always been a central part of her artistry. Here we hear her in songs that truly showcase her versatility, by composers including Robert Schumann, Gustav Mahler, Barber, Eisler, and Britten.Magnus Svensson is the artistic director of the lied concert series. Alongside concert activities in the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe, he has also performed in Russia and the USA. Since 2012, he has also worked at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music on the re-publishing of older Swedish music.

Haydn-Orchester / Sarah Christian / Rida Murtada

The Haydn-Orchester Hamburg is regarded as one of northern Germany’s top amateur orchestras. Founded in 1977, Rida Murtada has occupied the position of musical director since 2003. The orchestra performs biannually at the Laeiszhalle.

Sarah Louvion, flûte & Delphine Bardin, piano