EARTH FIRE WAT ER AIR

9th to 25th June 2017

EARTH | FIRE | WATER | AIR Programme & Concept: Dr. Andrea Palent | Dr. Jelle Dierickx

The Music Festival Potsdam Sanssouci dedicates the period from 9th to 25th June to the manifold connections between earth, fire, water, air and music. Potsdam’s palaces and gardens become venues where artists from 23 nations sound out the four elements in their manifestations as great floods, thunderstorms, singing rocks, whirling winds, creation or chaos by means of more than 80 concerts, operas and guided tours. Whether at a fiery Spanish baroque opera, an airy Sanssouci jazz night, during the bicycle concert, the water concerts in Babelsberg or at exclusive home concerts by the water – music is fully in its element.

At the heart of Park Sanssouci four statues embrace the great fountain. These are the allego- rical figures of fire, water, earth and air. Nearby, in the Picture Gallery Sanssouci, Jan Brueghel the younger depicts water and earth embodied by Thetis and Ceres; on the roof of the old city hall Atlas attempts to carry the celestial sphere. It suggests itself: in 2017 the Music Festival Potsdam Sanssouci shows how composers, interpreters, music theorists, scientists or instru- ment makers have been occupying themselves with the quadriga of fire, water, earth and air through the centuries.

No less than three musical theatre productions take up the issue. Ulysses had to sail the seas as a helpless victim of elementary forces. In William Kentridge’s legendary production of Monteverdi’s »Il ritorno d’Ulisse« the interplay of singers, puppets and video animation accompanies Ulysses on his travels through time and space. Antonio de Literes’ Ópera »Los Elementos« whisks the audience into the Spanish baroque world with sensually explosive rhythms and a lot of love for the female voice. The premiere of the children’s opera »A little Magic « shows how Tamino and Papageno have to walk through fire and water to win the real princess.

Further concerts explore the influence the elements had on music and music theory: from the signs of the zodiac to alchemy, from the theory of the four humours to spherical harmony. There are instruments made from rocks and from glass as well as the pneumaphone and the Basque tonewood Txalaparta.

As a model of human world exploration the theory of earth, fire, water and air is in a sense the mother of natural sciences. So naturally the Music Festival visits one of the most impor- tant regional science locations: the University of Potsdam’s Campus Golm.

The water garden in Babelsberg celebrates prince Pückler’s water art, which was brought back to life after 100 years. Visitors experience the recently renewed Palace Park Babelsberg with musical walks looking at water-related musical instruments, water sound games for children and a picnic concert – staged for the very first time at the sunbathing lawn by Lake Tiefer See.

EARTH FIRE WAT ER AIR

9th to 25th June 2017

Bookings from 11 January 2017 Information and tickets: Phone +49 (331) 288 88 28 | www.musikfestspiele-potsdam.de

PRESS INQUIRIES Artistic Coordination | Dramaturgy Press | Promotion: Dr. Jelle Dierickx Claudia Thieße Phone: +49 (331) 28 888 17 Phone: +49 (331) 28 888 33 [email protected] [email protected]

maren borchers · for artists Phone: +49 (331) 28 888 21 [email protected] We wish to thank all our sponsors, supporters and co-operation partners. Without their contributions this programme would not have been possible.

Organizer in cooperation with Musikfestspiele Sanssouci und Nikolaisaal Potsdam gGmbH Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg An enterprise of the Capital City of Potsdam

Supported by the State of Brandenburg’s Ministry for Science, Research and Culture

Friendly assistance provided by Media partners

Mittelbrandenburgische Sparkasse Bureau Export de la Musique Française Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten Energie und Wasser Potsdam GmbH Embassy of Spain rbb culture radio Sächsisches Staatsweingut Sixt Autovermietung Antenne Brandenburg Schloss Wackerbarth GmbH Representation of the Belgian German- rbb Television speaking community, the federation e.dis AG Deutschlandradio Kultur Wallonie-Brussels and Wallonie in Berlin Radeberger Gruppe KG Förderverein der Institut Français Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci EARTH FIRE WAT ER AIR

9th to 25th June 2017

SOME CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS

>>> Friday, 9 June 2017 | 20.00 h | Church of Peace Sanssouci | At the Great Fountain Opening Concert: MUSIC IN ITS ELEMENTS Fire, water, earth and air in the heart of Sanssouci Balthasar-Neumann-Choir | Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble | Olof Boman || Momo Sanno | Maja Jantar | Duo Ttukunak | Tony Di Napoli | Ensemble Soplarte

>>> Saturday, 10 June 2017 | 22.00 h | Terraces Orangery Palace Sanssouci, Mulberry Avenue Open-air concert: FIRE WATER STORM BAROQUE! Musical spectacles of nature with fireworks Concerto Copenhagen | Lars Ulrik Mortensen

>>> Sunday, 11 June 2017 | from 10.00 h | In, around and all the way through Potsdam BICYCLE CONCERT: 7 lakes, 7 churches and plenty of music all the way along the water!

>>> Sunday, 11 June 2017 | 20.00 h | Church of Peace Sanssouci THE GREAT FLOOD: A masterpiece resurfaces Cappella Mediterranea | Chœur de chambre de Namur | Leonardo García Alarcón

>>> Saturday, 17 June 2017 | from 14.00 h | Park Babelsberg WATER GARDEN BABELSBERG Musical walks, Water sounds for children and a Picnic Concert at Lake Tiefer See Trio Mandili | German Hornsound | Ludo Mariën | Alexandros Giovanos et al.

>>> Saturday, 17 June 2017 | 21.00 h | Area around Sanssouci Palace Open-air concert: SANSSOUCI JAZZ NIGHT – ON AIR Airy Jazz in historical environment Fred Wesley & The News JBs | Motion Trio | Céline Bonacina Trio | Speak Low | Niniwe | Trio Mandili

>>> Friday, 23 June 2017 | 20.00 h | Nikolaisaal Potsdam ITAIPU – THE SINGING ROCK Monumental choir-sinfonic piece by Philip Glass Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg | NFM Chor Wrocław

>>> Saturday, 24 June 2017 | 20.00 h | Church of Peace Sanssouci SWIFTLY, YOU WHIRLING WINDS! For Bach and Telemann music is in the air Capella Augustina | Vokalakademie Berlin | Andreas Spering

>>> Sunday, 25 June 2017 | 21.00 h | Communs at the New Palace of Sanssouci Sanssouci Prom Concert with fireworks: FIRE! Closing concert wth fireworks Helena Juntunen, Sun-Hae Im, Ed Lyon | Brandenburger Symphoniker | Bart Van Reyn EARTH FIRE WAT ER AIR

9th to 25th June 2017

MONTEVERDI: IL RITORNO D’ULISSE A theatrical moment of glory: Ulysses in South Africa

Nikolaisaal Potsdam Saturday, 10 June, 19.00 h | Monday, 12 June, 19.30 h

HANDSPRING PUPPET COMPANY | RICERCAR CONSORT Musical direction: Philippe Pierlot Direction, video animation & stage: William Kentridge

»What region surrounds me? What air am I breathing? What ground am I treading on?«

Homer’s Odyssey is brought to vivid life in William Kentridge’s restaging of this classic Monteverdi opera. Set in mid-20th ­ century Johannesburg, this version of the work com- bines sublime music and libretto with Kentridge’s animated charcoal drawings and life-size wooden puppets beautifully carved by Handspring Puppet Company, bringing the audience face to face with the power of myth. The music is interpreted by the Ricercar Consort under the direction of specialist Philippe Pierlot.

Ulisse is no longer in Ithaca. Instead, he lies reminiscing in a hospital bed in Johannesburg before death comes greet him. As he remembers his ten-year expedition following the Trojan War, his romantic return to his wife Penelope becomes an epic dream that intersects not only with classical Greece but also with Monteverdi’s Venice and contemporary South Africa. A timeless story of homecoming, fortune, adoration and human frailty.

»Il ritorno d’Ulisse« was first performed in 1998 at the Kunsten FESTIVAL des Arts in Brussels. The production went onto touring South Africa, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Portugal, France, USA, Luxembourg, Italy, Australia and the UK. The 2016 version was produ- ced by Quaternaire/Paris supported by the Asia Culture Center-Asian Arts Theater (Gwangju), the Lincoln Center White Light Festival (New York) and the Music Festival Potsdam Sanssouci. EARTH FIRE WAT ER AIR

9th to 25th June 2017

LOS ELEMENTOS Baroque opera al español

Orangery Palace Sanssouci Friday, 16 June 2017, 20.00 h (German premiere) Saturday, 17 June 2017 | Monday, 19 June 2017 | Tuesday, 20 June 2017, 20.00 h

LE TENDRE AMOUR Packed with creativity, originality and personality, the concerts and shows produced by the ensemble LE TENDRE AMOUR have taken the early music scene by surprise and created a style that thrills audiences around the globe. From vibrant Spanish chamber opera to pro- found Shakespearean theater to energetic baroque circus, LE TENDRE AMOUR productions transform the ordinary to the extraordinary, and draw the audience into a world of singular beauty. Based in Barcelona, Spain, the early music ensemble LE TENDRE AMOUR is directed and or- ganized by Katy Elkin and Esteban Mazer. The ensemble has performed hundreds of concerts throughout Europe in the most prestigious early music festivals and concert seasons. They were twice awarded the Jurica Murai and Ivan Lukacic prizes for best interpretation and best concert in the Varaždin Baroque Festival, Croatia. LE TENDRE AMOUR was awarded »ensemble in residence« for three years in the Seviqc Brežice Festival in Slovenia. Their latest chamber opera productions include »Le Devin du Village« (production Styriarte festival, Austria), »La Serva Padrona« (production Teatro Sar- rià, Barcelona) and 40 concerts of »Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse«, a production that combined theater, circus, and baroque music in the Biennale de Bron (Lyon, France). LE TENDRE AMOUR has also created, together with stage director Adrián Schvarzstein, a show of baroque music and circus called »Seasons« in the Cirque Noël (Graz, Austria). Their latest production is »The Tempest«, where Shakespeare’s epic work is brought to life with original music and two virtuosic actors from London.

Adrián Schvarzstein is a mix of Spanish, Argentinian, Italian and ... Whatever! Clown, actor, circus and theatre director, Adrián Schvarzstein is a very energetic entertainer-showman! From 1989 in the show business, after studying Commedia dell’ Arte in Italy but theatrically formed all over Europe where he created and collaborated with many street theatre groups, circus, opera, TV programs, etc. After many years with the renomate Circus Ronaldo from Belgium he created in 2004 the »Circus Klezmer« that is still on tour! His first solo show is »The Greenman«, then follow »The bed« and »Dans«, shows where the public is the main character. The creation of street theatre show »Kamchatka« (MiramirO prize in 2008) and the direction of the Opera »La Barca« in Holland are few of his last successful projects. EARTH FIRE WAT ER AIR

9th to 25th June 2017

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS 2017

Argentina: Eduardo Egüez, Leonardo García Alarcón, Adrián Schvarzstein, Lisandro Abadie Austria: Michael Hell Belgium: Maja Jantar, Tony Di Napoli, Soplarte, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Chœur de chambre de Namur, Ludo Mariën, Karel Schoofs, Alexandra Aerts, Transports Publics, Bart Van Reyn Cuba: Yetzabel Arias Denmark: Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen Finland: Helena Juntunen France: Jean-François Novelli, Capella Mediterranea, Fabián Schofrin, Emmanuelle de Negri, Magali Arnault-Stanczak, Ensemble Variances, Céline Bonacina Trio, Les Surprises, Maïlys de Villoutreys, Eugénie Lefebvre, Étienne Bazola, Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas Georgia: Trio Mandili Germany: Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble, Natascha Nikeprelevic, Rainer Zipperling, Sebastián Muhr, Trio Spiegelwelten, Philip Alexander Marguerre, Liquid Soul, Berlin Chamber Players Quartett, Johannes Lang, Björn O. Wiede, Anne Freitag, Sibylle Zehle, Squaw Hildegard Rose, Franz Schenkel, Hille & Marthe Perl, Tilman Muthesius, Christiane Gerhardt, Monika Schulz-Fieguth, The Early Folk Band, Consort Alter Klang, Thomas Höft, Marco Geisler, Gerhard Vondruska, Katrin Schröder, Friedemann Werzlau, Jens Schmidt, Matti, German Hornsound, Niniwe, Roland Mertens, Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg, Ulrich Moritz, Chor des Helm- holtz-Gymnasiums and Generationenchor Potsdam, Capella Augustina, Andreas Spering, Vokalakademie Berlin, Tobias Berndt, Matthias Winckhler, Benno Schachtner, Flautando Köln, Ottmar Ette, Sebastian Berweck, Stefanie Krüger, Cornelia Klettke, Uwe Altenberger, Klaus Fessmann, Brandenburger Symphoniker Greece: Alexandros Giovanos Hungary: David Szigetvari Italy: Romina Basso, Roberta Mameli, Matteo Bellotto, Trio dell’ Arcimboldo, Maria De Martini, Luca Lucchetta, Dario Tacconelli, Augusto Terenzi, Marta Cascarano Poland: Motion Trio, NFM Chor Wrocław Portugal: Fernando Guimarães Romania: Momo Sanno Russia: Olga Pashchenko Spain: Ttukunak, Carolina Pozuelo Mentero, Miguel Lara, Daniel Zapico, Viki Gómez, Le Tendre Amour, Evelyn Ramirez Muñoz, Esteban Mazer, María Hinojosa, Marta Valero, Luanda Siqueira, Marina Pardo, Hugo Oliveira, Arianna Savall South Africa: Handspring Puppet Company, William Kentridge South Korea: Sun-Hae Im Sweden: Olof Boman, Anna Zander, Fredrik From, Petter Udland Johansen, Otis Sandjö, Petter Eldh, Niklas Engquist Switzerland: Stephan MacLeod, Giovanna Pessi, Lucia Cadotsch, Sollazzo UK: Katy Bircher, Phantasm, Ed Lyon USA: Jeffrey Thompson, David Moss, Fred Wesley & the new JB’s EARTH FIRE WAT ER AIR

9th to 25th June 2017

THE COMPOSERS 2017

Heinrich Albert (1604–1651) Franz Liszt (1811–1886) François Andrieu (14. Jh.) Antonio de Literes (1673–1747) Juan de Araujo (1646–1712) Matthew Locke (1621–1677) (1685–1750) Marin Marais (1656–1728) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847) Luciano Berio (1925–2003)­ Marin Mersenne (1588–1648) John Blow (1648/49–1674) Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) William Byrd (um 1540–1623) David Moss (*1949) Giacomo Carissimi (1605–1674) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) (um 1370–1412) Johann Nauwach (um 1595–um 1630) Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) Thierry Pécou (*1965) George Crumb (*1929) Marthe Perl (*1983) André Cardinal Destouches (1672–1749) (1380–1416) John Dowland (1563–1626) Nicollò da Perugia (14. Jh.) Guillaume Dufay (1397–1474) Francis Poulenc (1899–1963) Michelangelo Falvetti (1642–1692) Michael Praetorius (1571–1621) Michel Farinel (1649–1726) (1659–1695) Alfonso Ferrabosco I. (1543–1588) Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Lorenzo da Firenze (†1373) Jean-Féry Rebel (1666–1747) Thomas Ford (1580–1648) Sven-David Sandström (*1942) Melchior Franck (um 1579–1639) Erik Satie (1866–1925) Philip Glass (*1937) Franz Schubert (1797–1828) Michail Glinka (1804–1857) Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672) Claude Goudimel (1520–1572) Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759) Jean (14. Jh.) Leo Haßler (1564–1612) Antonio Soler (1729–1783) Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) Johann Steffens (um 1560–1616) Tobias Hume (1569–1645) Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928–2007) Pelham Humfrey (1647–1674) Richard Sumatre (†1630) Thomas Jennefelt (*1954) Jan Pieterzoon Sweelinck (1562–1621) Caspar Kittel (1603–1639) (1681–1767) Adam Krieger (1634–1666) Marco Uccellini (1603–1680) Michel Richard de Lalande (1657–1749) (1678–1741) (um 1325–1397) Kurt Weill (1900–1950)