The 33rd Edition of the Cultural Festival Nordischer Klang Brings Music, Art and Literature from Northern Europe to Greifswald

Nordischer Klang/design 2024, © Anna-Liisa Sääsk
Nordischer Klang/design 2024, © Anna-Liisa Sääsk

This time, the patronage will be shared between Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister President Manuela Schwesig and Heidy Purga, Minister of Culture of Estonia, this year’s patron country. “Estonia’s joy for singing is legendary. It even sparked an independence movement across all of the Baltic states in 1987,” says Frithjof Strauß, the festival’s Artistic Director.

Nordischer Klang has invited several deeply passionate voices: Queen of Soul Rita Ray, who will be the opening act on 3 May, is probably the most popular Estonian pop artist in Germany. The mini choir Greip’s singing brims with groove, and singer/songwriter Haldi is guaranteed to charm everyone with her dreamy melodies. The Estonian Sinfonietta presents Estonian 20th century compositions, and Rahel Talts combines her jazz fusions with swinging and modern sounds.

The Maja Mannila Trio (FIN) makes the hearts of music lovers beat faster with soul and jazz. Quartet Yrry (N) plays recently composed pieces, which were written for the Borealis Festival for Experimental Music in Bergen. In collaboration with Turkish singer Hilal Kaya, the band Kalaha (DK) introduces Greifswald to global grooves. Tjango! (FIN) provide us with a lively mix of swing and tango, whereas Symbio (S) intoxicate us with folktronica. Celebrating the release party of their debut album, Myrhauk (N) visit us from Greifswald’s Norwegian twin town Hamar with their take on Americana in a Hedmark dialect. Cumbian Colors (DK) kick off the tropical dance party with South American rhythms, and the synth pop of Svømmebasseng (N) adds a vivacious disco feeling.

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the birth of world-renowned painter Caspar David Friedrich, the festival will dedicate a series of highlights specifically to Greifswald’s great son. For instance, teachers from four music schools in Greifswald’s Baltic twin towns delight us with “Caspar David Friedrich Concerts” featuring music from the Romantic period. Peter Nørgaard Larsen, director of the National Gallery of Denmark, will hold a talk on Friedrich’s significance for Danish art history. “As the festival’s rare original productions have always been a special highlight”, festival Director Marko Pantermöller is looking forward to the premiere of the project “Ach, Caspar!”. “The international project combines texts that were inspired by paintings and written by renowned authors with an atmospherically choreographed musical performance that we can look forward to. The plan for the project came from my colleague Clemens Räthel, who has a wealth of experience as a producer,” Pantermöller elaborates. Walter Baumgartner, emeritus Professor of Modern Scandinavian Literature at the University of Greifswald, directed the Nordischer Klang festival for several years. This year, he will hold a talk on Friedrich’s paintings of back portraits and their impact on art.

In addition to concerts, readings and lectures, the programme will once again be enriched by exhibitions, films and a versatile programme for children under the label “Kinderklang” (eng. “Children’s Sound”). Learn more at www.nordischerklang.de/programm

To bridge the waiting time until May, the official Aftermovie from the 2023 festival invites you to reminisce about last year’s event.

For further information on the festival and individual events, have a look at the programme, which will be available from April onwards at the region’s tourist information centres, cultural centres, music schools and libraries. Information on the specific programme, venues and ticket sales can also be found online at www.nordischerklang.de as well as on the festival’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, the YouTube channel, and in the newsletter. If you want to get an impression of what is in store at the upcoming concerts, check out the festival’s very own Spotify channel. Public broadcaster NDR is once again accompanying and supporting the festival as a media partner.

 

Contact
Mariana Yaremchyshyna (PR)
email: presse-nokluni-greifswaldde
Tel.: +49 3834 420 361


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