THE HFMT IN DECEMBER

From December 2, the 3rd year drama students can once again be admired on the big stage of the SchauSpielHaus. "Lord of the Thieves" - a fast-paced family play for ages 9 and up based on the novel by Cornelia Funke - was already able to play its way into the hearts of the audience last year.

The performances run until January 7. Tickets are available again from December 25 and - as the writer knows from her own experience - make an excellent Christmas present.

Lord of the Thieves at the Deutsches SchauSpielHaus

We have been pursuing a body and soul project for several weeks with Claudio Monteverdi's "Orfeo". In anticipation of two semi-staged performances of this early and groundbreaking opera in January 2024, several specialist groups are working on an interdisciplinary, multifaceted approach.

In addition to the musical and staged rehearsals, the preparations are embedded in theoretical considerations. In December, there will be public lectures on topics such as "Plucked instruments in Monteverdi's time" and "Monteverdi's later operas".

As part of their project studies, students from the Institute for Culture and Media Management have designed a multimedia and multi-perspective program magazine - the Montezine - in which fun facts and playlists are woven in alongside all kinds of useful information.

Orfeo: Info, dates and Montezine

The chamber music branch of the HfMT symphony orchestra meets once a year under the direction of Prof. Ulrich Windfuhr to rehearse challenging literature with soloists.

On December 7 and 8, the Ensemble 13/14 concert will include Arnold Schönberg's "Chamber Symphony op. 9" on the program. Schönberg himself described it as a "real turning point in his compositional style": "After I had finished composing the Chamber Symphony, it was not only the expectation of success that filled me with joy... I believed that I had now found my own personal compositional style and expected that all problems [....] would be solved, so that a way would be shown out of the confusing problems in which we young composers were entangled by Richard Wagner's harmonic, formal, orchestral and emotional innovations." (from the lecture "Wie man einsam wird", 1937).

The ensemble will also tackle an arrangement of Gustav Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder" and the composition "At first light" by British composer George Benjamin.

Ensemble 13/14 on December 7 and 8 at the Forum

Under the motto "Diversity can inspire", we can look forward to the fourth of 6 Study Weeks.
Together we celebrate diversity, because it is not just a buzzword, but the heart of our cooperation and creative development. With this in mind, we want to dive into the topics of anti-discrimination and participation in education in December.

In the lecture series on 12.12., Vice President Dr. Bilinc Ercan-Catanzaro will moderate a panel discussion with exciting guests. We welcome Selen Kara (director of Schauspiel Essen), Dr. Nepomuk Riva (ethnomusicologist at the University of Würzburg and author of the study "Experiences of discrimination and racism among black students at German music academies") and Prof. Sabina Dhein (HfMT, Vice President and Director of the Theatre Academy) to the podium. Musical interventions will be provided by Derya Yildirim - singer, multi-instrumentalist, based in the Turkish-European Croosover and alumna of the HfMT - which we are particularly pleased about.

The lecture by Prof. Dr. Gitta Strehlow is also highly recommended. With the question "Fear and social change - (not) a topic for teaching?", some theoretical aspects will be explained and then the space will be opened up for joint reflection and discussion.
You are cordially invited to attend.

Lecture series on anti-discrimination on 12.12.
Lecture by Prof. Dr. Gitta Strehlow on 13.12.

As usual, the multimedia department will be innovative, exploratory and experimental when the Master's students present their latest works in the Forum on December 16, drawing on the full range of technology and exploring the content of images of the body and identity in a technically captured and recreated world.

In a staged concert setting, actors and musicians present alter egos of themselves and deal with questions of authenticity, uniqueness, constructiveness - and emotional personality.
In five personal pieces, the composers offer emotional artistic approaches to their own world.

Replica on 16.12. in the Forum

If you prefer a more traditional style in December and are looking for Christmas references, you are also in good hands with us:

December 8: Cello goes Christmas
December 13: "Nightmare before Christmas" movie screening
December 18: Opera Gala
December 19: Christmas vocal studio concert

If you prefer to spend a winter evening or two on the couch, you could take a look at our media library and review the HfMT year or - in true Advent style - open a media door every now and then for a small or large cultural treat.
Here are three of our favorite contributions:

You can now listen to a great hour of the most intricate, profound and outstandingly interpreted chamber music - performed in a joint concert by teachers and students as part of the Ligeti Festival in May this year. You will need time and keen ears for this and it is well worth it!

The portrait of the bassoon class, which our webcast team has produced together with bassoon professor Christian Kunert and his class, has once again turned out very well. Thank you very much for this wonderful insight into your work!

And with the jazz department, we once again rapturously take to the summer open-air stage of the Elbjazz Festival. A total of 8 contributions from the HfMT Young Talents Stage are summarized in a series.
Have fun!

Long Night of Chamber Music
Portrait bassoon class
Elbjazz 2023

And as Christmas is almost upon us, we wanted to draw your attention to this powerful campaign that might be suitable for one or two people and families:
Since 2014, the Hamburger Studierendenwerk has been bringing together Hamburg and international students to spend time together over the festive period. "Spending time together not only helps to combat homesickness and loneliness, it also offers the chance to engage in intercultural exchange, gain insights into each other's (Christmas) culture and make new friends."

International Christmas Guest Campaign

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It remains to wish you all a wonderful Advent season as well as Happy Hanukkah (starting December 7), a memorable International Human Rights Day (December 10), lots of warmth, light and a big heart for peace in the world.

Your HfMT