The dimensions are impressive: 300 kilometers lie between the easternmost venue of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Festival, the Zarrentin Church, and the westernmost, the Torgelow iron foundry. 290 kilometers separate the northernmost venue on Rügen from the southernmost, the Neu Kaliss paper factory, where Melitta filter bags are normally manufactured.
From June 14th to September 15th, 130 events will bring music to almost every corner of the vast country. The Signum Saxophone Quartet will be traveling a lot, as the four musicians will be the festival’s “Prize Winners in Residence” in 2024.
© Nikolaj Lund
In 2016 they won the Nordmetall Ensemble Prize, and this summer they will perform 23 performances – and demonstrate their stylistic versatility, at chamber music evenings as well as with a large orchestra. They invited musical friends such as the violinist Daniel Hope, the percussionist Alexej Gerassimez, the pianist Danae Dörken and the cellist Harriet Krijgh.
Star guests at the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Festival this summer also include the orchestra of the Scala in Milan, the pianist Kit Armstrong, the Fauré Quartet and the organist Iveta Apkalna, as well as – beyond classical music – Götz Alsmann, Max Mutzke and the Frank Dupree Trio.
And then there is a special anniversary to celebrate: Ulrichshusen has been the heart of the festival for 30 years. The huge, acoustically excellent concert barn next to the Renaissance castle was inaugurated by Yehudi Menuhin in 1994. Since then it has been a meeting place for all classical music fans who like to go on country trips. This summer, nine events will take place in the Jottwedee idyll north of the Müritz, from the 360-degree saxophone event to the tango festival.
The 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich, who was born in Greifswald, is celebrated with the premiere of two commissioned works: Christian Jost is composing an orchestral work for the Signum Quartet that is inspired by Friedrich’s painting “The Sea of Ice”, and Konstanzia Gourzi is contributing to the opening concert with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra performed the overture “Moonrise by the Sea”.