Mixed up, disrupted, topsy-turvy. Welcome to earth, modern politics and – at least for the month of November – Konzerthaus Berlin. For two weeks starting 14.11.2022, the classical musical venue is suspending normal programming for Aus den Fugen, a concert series billed as a “soundtrack of a world in transition”. Rather different from your regular Brahms and Liszt, the line-up includes the likes of a techno marching band and a sonic play-off where six pianists battle for your ears. It’s a kind of musical free-for-all, with no strings attached. Okay: there are some strings – on the guitar played by Fatoumata Diawara, the Malian singer-songwriter whose music dissects the politics of her West African home. She’s bringing her band along for a concert on 20.11 (starts 20h).
Though very much an orchestra, the Reflektor ensemble also likes to challenge classical convention: the 40-strong music group from Hamburg is bringing its concert of “shadow works” – forgotten or neglected works composed by women – to the Gendarmenmarkt venue (23.11, 20h). And then there are the pianos: six are needed to play Limited Approximations, a piece by contemporary Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas. Their strings are slightly detuned, resulting in music that’s less concert, more “sound intoxication” session (18.11, 20h). The performance is one of eight that you can attend with an experience ticket, which lets you reserve your seat for free and pay what you think the concert is worth at the end. Topsy-turvy indeed.
Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Mantuno & Lucerne Festival Priska Ketterer & Orchestertwitch Cleanfeed
Konzerthaus Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
Tickets for Aus den Fugen (14–27.11.2022) can be bought online.
@konzerthausberlin