Nordlichter

As a multiple and multifaceted platform for Nordic Music and Arts, NORDLICHTER has established itself as a constant in Berlin cultural life. The next edition will take place February 27th until March 1st 2014 and invites the public to experience and discover extraordinary Nordic music projects in different formats. With over 50 artists, 25 composers, 16 German premieres and 6 world premieres in total, there is an exciting broad scope of Nordic music to be explored.

NORDLICHTER is not bound to a certain genre it rather intends to link differing projects from contrasting musical backgrounds meanwhile always drawing an inner red line. An important part are the calls to compose for young composers from the Nordic countries as well as from Berlin. The tight collaboration with Berlin based artists and Ensembles is an important component and creates a close connection to the Berlin music scene encouraging the exchange amongst the countries involved.

NORDLICHTER considers itself as a hub of various culture actors throughout Europe. Collaborating with many different types of festivals and partners, it allows for projects that are not only artistically successful, but also set an open frame for economic budgeting and cross-border cultural cooperation, thus being of great value for all stakeholders involved.

On Thursday, February 27th ‘Shared Sounds - Shared Thoughts’ in the Felleshus at the Nordic Embassies takes into consideration the origins of cultural cooperation within the Baltic Sea Region. The Stenhammar Quartet (SE) and Katrine Geslinge (DK) on piano will present a two-part concert that is enriched with various short discussions to follow up on this exciting aspect of cultural cooperation on an action level.

On Friday, February 28th the traditional ‚Nordic Night’ at RADIALSYSTEM V right on the river Spree, presents a wide range of musical projects from Norway via Sweden, Denmark to Latvia and Estonia. ‘Rosenbad - Papillon’ is a new piece by the great Danish composer Bent Sørensen and will have it’s world-premiere that evening. Written for the Swedish Stenhammar Quartet and Danish pianist Katrine Gislinge this will be the first part of a large-scale trilogy. The BOA Trio from Norway with the charismatic singer Tora Augestad will premiere 10 miniatures by 10 Norwegian composers, crossing the border between Pop and Contemporary Music. The world-class Norwegian a cappella collective Nordic Voices unveils new sound-scopes clear as glass. Traditional Estonian instruments are part of the performance by Ensemble Una Corda which in a fascinating way links medieval and contemporary music, combining the centuries with a breathtaking virtuosity. The project ‘Lost and Found’ by German/Icelandic Ensemble Adapter is highly experimental and includes three premieres by three different young composers from Denmark, Iceland and Finland. The evening rounds up with a performance of the Electronic Sound Art Project with Björn Svin, Søs Gunver Ryberg and Christian Vogel from Denmark, a DJ trio that constantly redefines electronic music in a very curious way.

On Saturday, March 1st NORDLICHTER invites the audience as partner of RIAS Chamber Choir to the concert ‘Voices of the Baltic’ at the Philharmonie Berlin. Under the button of charismatic Estonian conductor Tönu Kaljuste, the world-class choir will perform together with the Ensemble Resonanz from Hamburg works by Arvo Pärt, Lepo Sumeta and Peteris Vasks.