Ensemble Resonanz / Riccardo Minasi / Nadia Kailouli

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 with its heroic character and revolutionary energy is heard in the concert hall as a manifesto of the Enlightenment and the democratic values of Europe. It is dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom Beethoven regarded at the time as a symbol of hope for individual freedom and democratic progress.

But what happens to the evocative power of this music when human rights and humanity are put up for discussion in the face of complex challenges at Europe’s borders, what happens to us when we have to ask ourselves in a reality check whether our values end at these borders? In the concert, Beethoven’s »Sinfonia Eroica« meets the story of flight and migration by interweaving music and text passages: Journalist Nadia Kailouli was on board the Sea-Watch 3 in 2019 to make a documentary film about sea rescue. Emotional, sceptical and (self-)critical, she recounts her experiences at the borders of Europe.

After listening and feeling comes speaking – this concert with the Beethoven’s »Heroic Symphony« will be followed by an interactive discussion about Europe, Beethoven and the limits of the concert format.