Navid Kermani at the Bergson: Love
Navid Kermani is one of the leading intellectuals in the German-speaking world. As a writer, he has been honored with numerous awards, including the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, the Kleist Prize, and the Thomas Mann Prize. At the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk, he will read from a selection of his own texts—chosen by him—in a four-part series, reflecting on the themes of birth, love, freedom, and death.
In keeping with Valentine’s Day, this concert explores the complex theme of love. Musically, this is reflected above all in Robert Schumann’s beloved “Dichterliebe.” Hardly any other work of art portrays the ambivalence of love as perfectly as this cycle based on poems by Heinrich Heine. The joys of love, despair, pain, and melancholy: the poetic “I” experiences all the highs and lows of an unhappy love. However, what is depicted is not a coherent story, but rather separate episodes, each carried by a different underlying mood.
At the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk, this song cycle—which ranks among the most romantic works ever composed—will be performed by a world-class singer for whom this superlative is more than appropriate: Hanna-Elisabeth Müller. Usually at home on the most prestigious opera stages in New York, London, Paris, Munich, Vienna, and Salzburg, as well as in the “Lied meccas” such as Wigmore Hall, she now makes her debut in “Europe’s smartest concert hall.” Her musical partner for this performance is pianist Christoph Traxler.
Especially in “Dichterliebe,” which Schumann composed in 1840, the year of his marriage to Clara Wieck, the equality between voice and piano is particularly palpable. The postludes are very long, the text is further interpreted, the emotions are brought to full expression, and the two parts embrace each other almost like lovers.
So a very special kind of Valentine’s Day awaits you: with world-class music and lyrics that broaden your horizons.
Additional dates:
May 2, 2027: Freedom (featuring the Bergson Phil’ and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5)
Program
Robert Schumann: “Dichterliebe,” Op. 48 (Poems by Heinrich Heine)
Robert Schumann: “Widmung,” Op. 25, No. 1 (poem by Friedrich Rückert)
Gustav Mahler: “Erinnerung,” from “Lieder und Gesänge” (poem by Richard Leander)
Francis Poulenc: “Fleurs,” from “Fiançailles pour rire” (poem by Louise de Vilmorin)
Johannes Brahms: “Death Is the Cool Night,” Op. 96 No. 1 (poem by Heinrich Heine)
Richard Strauss: “Zueignung,” Op. 10, No. 1 (poem by Hermann von Gilm)
Cast
Navid Kermani, Essays
Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, soprano
Christoph Traxler, piano
Admission and Tickets
Doors open: 3:30 pm
Start: 4:00 pm
End: 5:15 pm
Support-Price Ticket: 56€
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Fair-Price Ticket: €44
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Social-Price Ticket: €28
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Combined ticket for all four events: 140 euros