German-Scandinavian Orchestra Week in Berlin
Young Musicians From 20 Different Nations Participate in an International Music Project
January 08th, 2016
For the 40th time, the international interdisciplinary music project called the German-Scandinavian Orchestra Week was arranged once again in Berlin. Patrons of the Orchestra Week are the Governing Mayor of Berlin and the Ambassadors of the Nordic Countries in Germany. The closing concert was held on January 5th at the Great Hall of the Philharmonie in Berlin. On stage was the German-Scandinavian Youth Philharmonic together with the EUGA male choir from Helsinki and the Berlin Boys Choir, as well as vocal and instrumental soloists from Germany and Finland. In the intimate chamber concert a special focus during the evening was on the work of Jean Sibelius, the Finnish composer and violinist born in 1865, who became famous for his music. He is often credited for having been able to musically express the soul of Finland and for creating a Finnish national identity. The evening contained a performance of his symphony Kullervo.
The orchestra consists of young musicians, both students and professionals, from over 20 different nations. This event provides an opportunity for them to get together and play under the guidance of experienced tutors. With the purpose of contributing to an improved knowledge of Nordic orchestra music in Germany, this event addressed selected subjects from the Nordic cultural area.
The composer Andreas Peer Kähler has, since 1981 been the conductor and artistic director of the German-Scandinavian Youth Philharmonic and is also the founder of this annual event. He describes this years event as an opportunity to build bridges between an old Finnish legend and the modern Berlin. Since this event brings young musicians from all over the world together for a common purpose he also sees this as forming bridges in an even broader sense. Through sharing experiences and making music together the building of lasting relationships and the exchange between cultures are only some of the positive outcomes of this successfull event.
Michael Noer is a Danish filmmaker who, after attending the Danish Film School, specialized in documentary filming. He has over the years won several prizes for his work, in both Danish and International competitions, among them the Nordic Film Award in 2010 for his movie R.
The upcoming films to be shown following Nordvest are two Icelandic movies Hemma on January 27 th and París Norðusins on February 10 th. Films are usually shown every second Wednesday in their original version with subtitles. The entrance fee is 5 € (discounted price € 3) for a movie night and a card for 3 months costs 15 € (discounted price 12 €), while members of the Kulturhus Berlin enter for free. The films are to be shown at the Nordic Embassies in Felleshus on Rachstrasse 1.
References and Links
Hanna Lindholm, Berlin Global
