Monthly Archives: November 2009

Christmas 2009 – A Compilation of Events

Christmas is near. In fact next weekend will be the first Advent! An important date I remember from my childhood, as it meant the most wonderful season of the year was about to start. The dangerously delicious scent of freshly baked cookies filled my and all my friends’ homes. It was the season, where it seemed to be just natural to find some time in the day to sit together with a warm cup of tea or coffee in the hand, chatting and watching the flame of the first candle of the advent wreath magically illuminate the dark filled rooms.

Cookies, Snow and Sankt Nikolaus (Saint Nicolas), Christkindl markets and the cold but sweet smell in the air, ‘heisse Maroni’ (warm chestnuts), Gluehwein (hot spiced red wine), and more are just some of my cherished Christmas memories…

I am still on the search for a perfect advent wreath and have yet to find out more about Christkindl markets here in California. The Christmas Festivals, like the Winter Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, are probably a close bet. In the meantime get in the mood for Christmas by checking out the regularly updated list of Christmas events. It’s an extra page under ‘Resources’, dedicated to “Christmas 2009″.

Berliner Philharmoniker at Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles

The Berlin Philharmonics, commonly described as one of the world’s greatest orchestras,  are coming to Los Angeles. Conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, they can be heard at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Monday, Nov. 23, 8pm with Brahms’ Piano Quartet No.1 and Brahms’ Symphony No.1. Then on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 8pm with Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger” Overture, Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No.1 and Brahms’ Symphony No.2

Find out more under LAPhil.com or (323)-850-2000

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Multimedia Art Project – ReConstructing the Wall

The multimedia art project “Virtuelle Mauer/ReConstructing the Wall”  that received the Grand Prize of the IBM Innovation Awards for artistic creation in art and technology at the Boston Cyberarts Festival will be on view at the Goethe Institute, Los Angeles, November 20 – December 3, 2009.

Tamiko Thiel and Teresa Reuter are the primary collaborators on the artist team T+T and the designers of the virtual wall exhibition. Their work crosses the boundaries not only of art, design and technology, but also of politics, history and culture.

The virtual reality artwork “Virtuelle Mauer/ReConstructing the Wall” investigates the impact of the Berlin Wall, which divided West and East Berlin during the Cold War from August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989. A digital reconstruction of a segment of the dismantled Berlin Wall and its surrounding neighborhoods creates a place of rememberance that users can explore in order to to experience and reflect on this historical time.

As in a 3D computer game, users can wander along the Wall – not in the role of the omnipotend border guard, gun in hand, but in the role of a normal Berlin resident who must live day in and day out with the presence of the Wall.

Opening reception:  Thursday, November 19th 2009 , 6 to 9 p.m.

Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
5750 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Info: +1 323 5253388

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The Berlin Wall and Other Physical Borders – A Discussion at USC Annenberg School for Communication

Visions & Voices presents Communication Across Borders: An International Dialogue
Annenberg Auditorium, 6:30 p.m
. – Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 – Co-sponsored by the Goethe-Institute Los Angeles

November 9th, 2009, marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  – While many have forgotten the impact of living with the wall for a quarter of a century, it was a constant reminder of the Cold War and the threat of atomic war.
Choreographer Nejla Yatkin was a teenager in Berlin living with the reality of the divided city. She experienced the threat of imminent conflict in the battle between East and West, and saw the world open up when the wall went down.
For the first time in decades, people had a chance to communicate, share, move and get to know each other, without feeling the oppressive threat.
This event will draw on these observations and experiences, exploring the role that physical and political boundaries play in society.
The event will include a screening and short performance of a contemporary dance piece by Yatkin that reflects, embodies and subverts the interaction between individuals, movement and the emotional impact of barriers.
Following the presentation, Carola Weil, Annenberg associate dean for planning and strategic initiatives, will moderate a discussion with Yatkin and Annenberg faculty members Sandy Tolan, Josh Kun and Roberto Suro.
They will link the Berlin Wall to other physical borders, such as the U.S.-Mexican border and the fence between Israel and Palestinian territories.
While these boundaries can act as national or international assets, they can also act as impediments that restrict the flow of resources, commerce and intellectual property, isolating people and dividing nations.

WHERE: USC University Park Campus, Annenberg Auditorium  WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 2009 at 6:30pm
Admission is free. RSVP requested.
visionsandvoices@usc.edu

 

 

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Opera “Haensel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck in San Diego

Humperdinck’s enchanting fairy tale opera, die Maerchen Oper  ”Haensel und Gretel” -

If you grew up in Germany or Austria, I am sure you are just all familiar not only with the story but also the music. Haensel und Gretel Even though associated with Christmas and winter time, many of the arias are songs we all heard and sang as little kids all year round. I certainly remember singing and dancing to  ”Bruederchen komm tanz mit mir, beide Haende reich’ ich Dir” or “Suse, liebe Suse, was raschelt im Stroh”. Do you? 

Well, just thinking of these beautiful songs in this opera warms my heart and I am so happy that there finally is a possibility to see and hear the opera here in Southern California,  at the Lyric Opera San Diego. This is something I don’t want my kids to miss and I hope they will feel a glimpse of that wonderful joyful spirit that this opera radiates. It’s a bit of German culture to pass on to our children!

“Haensel und Gretel” was first performed in Weimar on December 23, 1893 and conducted by Richard Strauss. Since then it has become one of the most popular operas and one that’s perfect for introducing children to the world of opera.

The Lyric Opera San Diego presents Haensel and Gretel in English on November 13, 15, 19, 21 and 22 at Birch North Park Theatre, 2891 University Ave San Diego, CA 92104. Tickets can be ordered online or by phone (619) 231-5714.

For the ones who want to listen in to some of the songs here is a link to listen to excerpts sung by Lucia Popp ( Gretel) and Brigitte Fassbaender ( Haensel) and others  http://www.weltbild.de/3/15559795-1/musik/haensel-und-gretel.html 

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“STORM”- German Film Opening November 13th in L.A.

The  film STORM, by the awarding-winning German writer/director Hans-Christian Schmid, whose last film Requiem won the German Film Critics Award for Best Film will be opening on November 13th in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Irvine.

STORM tells the powerful story of a determined female prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, who is trying to prosecute war crimes committed during the Yugoslavian War, but must confront hidden enemies and threats on the path to finding justice.  STORM
 
STORM, which includes the up-and-coming German actor Alexander Fehling, as well as Kerry Fox, Anamaria Marinca, and Stephen Dillane, has been an incredible critical success and was this year’s winner of the Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas, the Reader Jury of the “Berliner Morgenpost” at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Bernhard Wicki Film Award for Best Film at the Munich Film Festival, and the Amnesty International Film Prize.
 
STORM will be opening in Los Angeles on Friday, November 13th at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and at the Regal Westpark 8 in Irvine.

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“Festival of Freedom” – 20 Jahre Berliner Mauerfall – “Fest der Freiheit”

It’s been 20 years that the Berlin Wall came down and the city of Berlin has planned great festivities to commemorate this historical event.

On November 9, 2009, Berlin will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a spectacular “Festival of Freedom”.  One thousand foam domino tiles over 8 feet tall, that Foam Dominos symbolizing Fall of Berlin Wall have been placed along the former route of the wall in the city  center, will fall at the Brandenburger Tor as a symbol for the falling of the wall.

The Festival of Freedom will begin with an open-air concert at Pariser Platz by the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Daniel Barenboim. After the concert, the fall of the Berlin Wall will be symbolised by knocking over the dominos, that have been designed by the Berlin youths. This event will be broadcast live in ZDF from 19.25 until 20.15. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend this extraordinary event.

Many other events are planned through the end of the year. Check the calendar at the website dedicated to the Mauerfall 09 

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Take in a movie or two – AFI Filmfest

AFI Filmfest has started and will be on until November 7th. ‘The AFI Film Festival annually serves as one of Los Angeles’ major movie gatherings and is a launch pad for some Oscar hopefuls.’ (Reuters). Don’t miss today’s movie by German director, Michael Haneke,  ‘The White Ribbon’ (Das Weisse Band) at 7pm in the Chinese theater in LA. Michael Haneke is the winner of this year’s Palm d’Or at Cannes and Germany’s entry for the foreign language Oscar! Read his interview here.

The AFI Film Festival runs through November 5 in Hollywood at the famous Grauman’s Chinese theater and adjacent Mann Chinese 6 cineplex, and has two final days, November 6-7, in Santa Monica that take place in conjunction with the American Film Market. The festival is organized by the American Film Institute, a nonprofit group dedicated to cinematic education.

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