Winterreise with Schubert

Almost 20 years ago, the artist couple Nicola Hümpel and Oliver Proske founded a theater collective at the Bauhaus in Dessau with the strange name Nico and the Navigators - Nico stands for Nicola, the Navigators are their comrades-in-arms and instigators. A cooperation with the Sophiensälen in Berlin soon followed, where the group developed their first plays as artists in residence. Projects at the Radialsystem and at the opening of the Tischlerei at the Deutsche Oper followed. In the meantime the Navigators have established themselves as a permanent fixture in Berlin's independent scene. Whereby established is to be understood purely artistically. Although the troupe can now be seen in international co-productions throughout Europe, the artistic work is accompanied by the tough struggle for funding. Fortunately, creativity has not suffered in the process, as evidenced by the Berlin premiere of Silent songs into the world, which can now be seen at the Konzerthaus after its Brussels premiere in February. Silent songs into the world is subtitled Staged Concert with music by Franz Schubert, but it is much more than a staged concert. Nicola Hümpel draws on songs by the composer that are about wandering and travel and everything that has to do with it, be it feelings of longing, farewell, strangeness or happiness. Together with stage designer Oliver Proske, who is also responsible for the sophisticated video direction, she develops a collage of song and dance rich in associations, which subtly captures the moods of music and text. It is also full of surprises musically. Schubert is heard not only in the original, but alienated and in delicate new arrangements by guitarist Tobias Weber. Parallel to the actions, in which the instrumentalists - the Apollon Musagète Quartet, Weber himself and the pianist Matan Porat - are also involved, the faces of the performers are projected enlarged onto two movable screens. This creates a special closeness to the audience. Each musical number bears a modern headline. Gretchen at the spinning wheel for example, is called U-Bahn-Gretchen. Here Sarah Laulan crouches as a refugee woman in the middle of a group of people and sings "Meine Ruh ist hin". Or Meeres Stille with the supertitle Lampedusa: while Julla von Landsberg performs the song very delicately, the ensemble simulates waves through body movements. These images seem very topical, but never contrived. There are also humorous scenes, such as when Yui Kawaguchi exuberantly dances at the pianist during the piano impromptu. The piece leads into a rousing finale. With exuberant drive, all participants intonate Das Wandern ist des Müllers Lust . Each in his own language, because multinationality is also part of the concept. The singers, dancers and instrumentalists come from seven countries, and each of them brings his or her own story to the table. Together, however, they all form an absolutely homogeneous ensemble. And yet one soloist stands out: Baritone Nikolay Borchev sings with such sensitivity and sophistication that he recommends himself as a hopeful lieder singer. Many bravos and long-lasting applause in the almost sold-out Konzerthaus after a stimulating and gratifying evening. The evening was so multifaceted that a single experience is not enough. There will be an opportunity to deepen the impressions in March of next year at the Radialsystem.

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