Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH: Final Spurt for the Reformation Autumn 2017
Leipzig celebrates Luther
LEIPZIG, Germany, Aug. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leipzig's role in the history of the Reformation is one of national importance. With more than 200 events the German city is celebrating the Reformation anniversary 2017. The next weeks will have many highlights in store for the culturally aware.
From 2-4 September, Leipzig's market square will be filled by a 42-metre table surrounded by 95 chairs. The colossal installation "THE SUPPER TABLE – Decreasing Horror | Increasing Love" (ABENDMAHL - abnehmender Schrecken / zunehmende Liebe) by composer and media artist Thomas Christoph Heyde is to be the setting for one of the most complex works of our age: For the first time ever, 95 singers will perform the original Latin text of Martin Luther's 95 Theses – on three consecutive nights. Large video screens and an augmented reality app will allow audiences to immerse themselves in the history as well as the events as they happen. What's more, 360-degree applications enable an individual view of the event – whether you're right there or watching virtually. On the days afterwards, it will be possible to simply sit down at the large table – just as Luther himself would no doubt have done – and start a conversation with other people. The installation will thus create a tangible bridge between past and present.
That same weekend, the gesamtkunstwerk "Josquin – The Project" will be happening at several venues in Leipzig, e. g. at the Old Stock Exchange and the Hôtel de Pologne. For this world premiere, the impressive oeuvre of Luther's favorite composer, consisting of 18 masses, 60 motets and 60 chansons, will be performed in one coherent concert cycle. Born in 1450, Josquin des Préz excelled as a singer, cantor and composer in the musical centers of Europe.
On mention of Leipzig one thinks immediately of Johann Sebastian Bach, who shaped the musical life of Leipzig for 27 years as St. Thomas cantor. Several cantata volumes, among which the St. John Passion, originated in Leipzig. In the year of the Reformation anniversary, Mario Schröder, the ballet director and chief choreographer of the Leipzig Ballet, created a ballet evening with music from Bach's St. John Passion, which will premiere on 27 October 2017 at the Leipzig Opera House.
Music lovers should not miss another highlight: the organ festival at the Leipzig Gewandhaus from 27 through 31 October 2017, which is bannered as "Reformation – Revolution" this year. The program includes a Sunday morning organ concert with organist Mathis Eisenberg (29 Oct, 11am) and Lutheran church music (29 Oct, 8 pm).
On Reformation Day, 31 October 2017, the St. Thomas Boys Choir will accompany the church service in St. Thomas Church, featuring the Bach cantata "Eine feste Burg ist unser Gott" (BWV 80) with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, St. Thomas organist Ullrich Böhme and soloists under the direction of St. Thomas Cantor Gotthold Schwarz.
More information: www.luther-in-leipzig.de; www.abendmahl2017.de
Travel offers, room reservations: [email protected], www.leipzig.travel
Press contact: Steffi Gretschel, [email protected]; phone +49-341-7104300
A picture accompanying this release is available in the AP PhotoExpress feed using ref# PRN1051175.
SOURCE Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH
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