In Mönchengladbach, the Wandelsaal hall of the newly designed central library is being transformed into a living room concert venue: young people are organising the concerts with professional support. Admission is free, and intimate, unconventional encounters between musicians and audiences are taking place – close, open, in performance and in conversation.
It is precisely this proximity, participation and direct exchange that bring classical music to life for young people and others, allowing them to experience it in a way that is accessible and engaging, even if they have had little exposure to it before.
Lena Kravets and Tobias Kassung will perform parts of their programme, ‘Nachtstücke – zwischen Traum und Tango’ (Nocturnes – between dream and tango). Here, they enchantingly combine dreamy nocturnes and adagios with the exuberant music of metropolitan nightlife. Romantic nocturnes and adagios by Glinka and Beethoven perfectly express the intimate, dreamy sound of the cello and guitar. Kassung's own new piece adds a new aspect to the ‘dream’: the very topical dream of peace. In three musical scenes, Kassung's work seduces the listener into the world of Arabic music, full of colour, power, hope and longing. Raffaele Bellafrente's tango brings exuberant life to the fore. And finally, it culminates in the ‘Quatre rêves’ by Parisian composer Mathias Duplessy, who has set the exuberant nightlife of the French metropolis to rousing music in his four musical dreams. Music that thrills, moves and is simply a joy to listen to!
