DECEMBER 2021

Initially, it was the beauty of the word "Shibboleth" that inspired multimedia composer Aigerim Seilova to conduct further research. She became more and more fascinated by its history and meaning and so the idea of a multimedia opera on this subject was born.
According to Wikipedia, "Shibboleth is a custom or tradition, usually a particular phrase or even a single word, that distinguishes one group of people from another. It has been used as an identifier in many different societies throughout history."

In a team with dramaturge Jari Niesner (libretto) and video artist Janina Luckow, Aigerim has created a work in which the concepts of virtuality, authentication, password, self-definition and freedom are explored. Musically, she draws on a wide and heterogeneous range of sources. From baroque allusions to techno, everything that evokes the desired expression is used here.

The opera will be performed in English. [Premiere is on 2.12. (https://www.hfmt-hamburg.de/veranstaltungen/details/9256/), further performances on 4 and 5.12.

This is where we shape and hone, work and create, reflect and perfect - tailored to the needs of a single person at this very moment: one-to-one artistic tuition with the main subject teacher is the heart of instrumental and vocal training at any music academy.
For students of other disciplines such as law, German studies, computer science and so on, who cavort in large lecture halls, this is perhaps a marvelous and completely luxurious phenomenon.

In our profession, it is a basic prerequisite for successful development: on the basis of immense trust and intensive exchange, these lessons offer inspiration and guidance week after week for the practice and progress of the soloists, chamber and orchestral musicians of tomorrow.

In keeping with tradition, we show the fruits of this work at our studio concerts, in which the teachers' classes present the current state of their skills. In December, a total of 15 studio concerts are on the program, all of which we warmly recommend.

When only the "best of the best" young opera singers demonstrate their vocal brilliance and dramatic charisma on the Friday before the 4th Advent, the HfMT will be filled with pre-Christmas splendor and festivity.

And the "best" themselves can hardly wait: Maksymilian Skiba will sing the marshal's aria "Kto z mych dziewek serce której" (Who of my daughters wants to free one in breeding and honor) from "The Haunted Castle" by Stanislaw Moniuszko. "It is probably the most popular baritone aria in Poland. It tells how a true and just man should be. His task is also to strengthen morale. I am very happy that I can sing this aria and thus also promote Polish music." Andrezza Reis from Brazil feels a great sense of happiness: "All my colleagues are very talented singers and it is wonderful to make music with them. There are also two Brazilian friends of mine - Vicente and Luiza - on the Master's course, which is of course another special connection!" Bassist Oscar Marin-Reyes dedicates himself to works by the composers Mozart, de Falla and Verdi: "All three composers were particularly influential in the history of music - so I feel a great responsibility as an interpreter. The three pieces are very close to my heart and I enjoy immersing myself in all the different moods and characters."

It makes you want to dive right in...
It's best to secure your seats for 17.12. today.

Have you already read the latest issue of our university newspaper ZWOELF? As the weather is now increasingly advising us to head for the sofa, warm socks, a steaming cup of tea and a cozy atmosphere, we recommend the perfect mental nourishment from the HfMT.

Similar to the studio concerts, this issue focuses on the topic of "processes" and is dedicated to all the processes that precede their final works and which often remain hidden, although in our view they are at least as interesting and valuable as the final products.

The newspaper can be read online here or delivered free of charge if you send an e-mail with your address to redaktion.zwoelf@hfmt-hamburg.de.