Havelländer Music Festival on the Landgut Stober estate
Havelland Music Festival: Classical Music in Historic Settings
When it comes to the Havelland region, you can think more broadly: as a tourist region, the area west of the capital includes much more than just the district of the same name. The northern boundary of the Havelland is formed by the River Rhin, the western boundary by the city of Rathenow, and in the south it extends to Brandenburg an der Havel and Potsdam. Frank Wasser resides in the heart of the sparsely populated area, at Ribbeck Castle.
Since 2000, the pianist has directed the “Havelländische Musikfestspiele”, which bring classical concerts to the region throughout the year. Performances take place primarily in churches and manor houses, but there are also regular guest performances in hospitals and care homes. Wasser's latest idea is a series called “Märkische Hofkonzerte”.
However, these are not concerts held in magnificent aristocratic residences, but quite simply on farms in the countryside. Frank Wasser's own home in Päwesin will be the venue for a “Jazz meets Classic” afternoon on 24 August, where the artistic director will perform as a duo with his father, who is a jazz pianist.
On 30 November, sculptor Gerhard Goschel will open his Kunsthof Galm, a three-sided farmstead dating from 1760, located “at the end of the world” near Zollchow. Johann Sebastian Bach's “The Well-Tempered Clavier” will be performed surrounded by contemporary art in the attic of the former stables, which has been converted into an event space.
Frank Wasser was delighted when he received an inquiry from the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation as to whether he would like to oversee the artistic programme for the reopening of the water stage at the Belvedere in Potsdam. Of course he agreed! On 8 June, a metal stage will rise from the basin for the first time in the inner courtyard of the building, which was constructed in 1863. Around 300 spectators will be seated around the basin.
After the performance of the Berlin Horn Quartet, the stage can be lowered again – until the second musical Pfingstberg event on 31 August, when the internationally celebrated Russian pianist Nikolai Tokarev is expected.Because no piano dealer could be found who was willing to provide a grand piano for use on the water stage, the artistic director will bring his own instrument from Päwesin for the occasion.
Because Frank Wasser wants to bring classical music to people in rural areas on the one hand, but also wants to encourage Berliners to enjoy musical excursions into the countryside on the other, he has arranged a free shuttle service with the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association, which is coordinated with train timetables.This means that even Berlin residents without their own cars have the opportunity to reach the rural venues.For visitors to Klessen Castle, for example, there is a bus available at Friesack railway station. Those wishing to visit Landgut Stober are picked up in Nauen, while the shuttle service to Schinkel Church in Petzow departs from Werder.
FREDERIK HANSSEN