Ludwigshafen (dpa/lrs) – White wine with Wagner, Martini with Mahler: The German State Philharmonic Orchestra of Rhineland-Palatinate is setting up a special festival bar to bring audiences and artists together. “We want to talk about the upcoming works in a relaxed atmosphere,” said artistic director Beat Fehlmann to the German Press Agency in Ludwigshafen.
The state's largest symphony orchestra is driven by proximity to the musical experience and the cultivation of relationships. “Wine is not a prerequisite for this,” emphasised Fehlmann, “but it is certainly a possible accompaniment.”
Engage in conversation with the audience
The first festival evening will take place on September 4th at 8.30 p.m. in the Philharmonie. Fehlmann and chief conductor Michael Francis will talk about the special fascination of works by Richard Wagner and Gustav Mahler, for example, and also want to talk to the audience. The following day, works by both composers will be on the program of the festival concert “Modern Times: San Francisco.”
“Modern Times has an ambitious program,” said Fehlmann. “At the same time, these works have so many intersections with our current lives, with our times. We want to share these lines in conversation with our audience.”
Own cocktail in the colors of the festival
You can imagine it like this: musicians stand at the bar, bring drinks, double bassist Christoph Haaß even created his own cocktail: blue and gold in the colors of the festival. The State Philharmonic tried this for the first time last year, said Fehlmann. “The format was very well received and gave us a real festival feeling.”
Another meeting is planned for September 13th. The guest will be pianist Joseph Moog. The following day he will be playing at “Modern Times: Baden-Baden” in the Pfalzbau, and the Turangalîla Symphony will be performed. The name is the ancient Indian term for “running horse”.
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