Prelude: Orpheus in the Wilderness

The BERLINER FESTIVAL ALTER MUSIK opens with an atmospheric prelude by Alexander Bonus. In a meditative soundscape, a magnetic pull unfolds that – much like the music of Orpheus – seduces the senses and transports the audience into another world. Historical Renaissance instruments merge with the multilayered timbres of modern analogue synthesizers to create a listening experience that is both timeless and surprising. Enter whenever you wish and let yourself be captivated by the sounds of an Orpheus of our time!

Titans Rising Ensemble: “All wilden Tier im grünen Wald” – A Celebration of Nature

Nature as an idyllic refuge from loud, busy cities has long been a beloved theme in art and music. What is it that continually draws us back to nature? Why is the theme of nature so captivating? Is it an innate and deeply rooted familiarity stemming from our time as hunter-gatherers? Is it escapism? Or is it the strength we draw from the beauty of nature in order to cope with the challenges of our lives?

Especially in times of war, nature becomes an idyllic place of refuge. This was true during the Thirty Years’ War, and it remains true today amid multiple crises and conflicts around the world. Throughout history, people have found comfort in the beauty of nature, the cheerful sounds of animals, and the idyllic stories of shepherds and shepherdesses in love. Might we today still gain something of the sense of wonder that composers 400 years ago passed down to us through their music? Perhaps we ourselves may feel a little encouraged if we can catch even a glimpse of their amazement.

The program presents madrigals from Johann Hermann Schein’s Wald-Liederlein and Diletti pastorali, complemented by works by his German contemporaries.