winterREISE

winterREISE in Youth Detention Centre

I don't often write about my work or personal life on this blog, but rather recommendations of where to visit and enjoy Berlin. However I wish to make an exception, because of the unexpected nature and uplifting experience of my work today. 

As a musician we become very accustomed to and comfortable in the concert hall, theatre or practice room - but my relationship with Lieder, in this case Schubert's Winterreise, today led me to an unusual situation - a workshop inside a prison for youths. 

Care of winterreise.gefaengnistheater.de

The initiative "Gefängnistheater (Prison Theatre) has been working on this winterREISE project for three years, and has taken the Schubert Song Cycle and used the texts, music and expression, to involve the detainees in an art experiment. 

I was there with an outstanding colleague, dramatic mezzo soprano, Christin-Marie Hill, to perform a selection of songs from the original cycle of 24 in their original classical form. An example of "Gute Nacht" (good night) is performed below by two of Berlin's most famous artistic residents, Baritone Thomas Quasthoff and pianist Daniel Barenboim. 

The majority of the afternoon was spent evolving the original texts into rap responses, performed by the detainees, and myself improvising at the piano, while Christin-Marie added sung refrains and an eclectic mix of jazz, soul, operatic and pop to the ordered rap. 

What struck me the most was not the setting (I had to keep reminding myself that I was actually in a prison), but the genuine response and enthusiasm that these young men (16-23) had to both the classical version of these Lieder (songs) and their own interpretation and response via rap that could relate to their own experiences and lives. 

care of winterreise.gefaengnistheater.de

I would love to post some of the rap verses, which were not only quite poetic in structure, but gave an interesting insight into their lives and past experiences. However there is a performance planned in Autumn (beginning of October), where their interpretations will be presented. Unfortunately I don't know whether it is an open performance, but regardless I feel like the experience and purpose of what is being achieved here is of great importance for rehabilitation and cultural appreciation. 

care of www.berlin.de

That in a prison setting these Lieder can have such a powerful effect, continue to evolve and be relevant, was quite an uplifting and genuinely enjoyable experience for me. I believe the inmates were also extremely grateful and respectful for the day that we shared.

For further information on this programme, which is supported by the EU Union and multiple government initiatives, visit their website in german at: http://winterreise.gefaengnistheater.de/

And to finish with, a clip of my all time favourite Lieder interpreter, the late Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau performing "Letzte Hoffnung" (last hope) from "Winterreise".

Menotti's THE MEDIUM 31.10.2014

Menotti's THE MEDIUM

"The Medium" is a two-act, one hour opera by the italian-american composer Gian Carlo Menotti. 

It tells a story of Madam Flora/Baba as a fraud communicator with the dead (think Whoopie Goldberg in the film "Ghost"), until this particular seance, whereby she has a true experience of someone (or something) touching her throat. From that moment she continues to become more obsessed with finding out the answer and growing with fear, frustration and anxiety. At the end of the opera she shoots the mute, Toby, thinking that he is the ghost. 

Design: Ellen Leather

While this a rarely performed Chamber Opera, it is extremely well composed, compact and dramatic. 

A performance in Berlin recently took place at the restaurant P103, Potsdamer Strasse 103, and another is planned for Halloween on Friday 31 October at 22:00. I suggest getting along to see it, as the performance is by donation only, and it is easy enough to have dinner first then enjoy drinks during the performance itself. 

L. Rose Nolan & R. Elizabeth Baz in THE MEDIUM / Photo: Niko Tourkos

The opera is sung in English and features an international cast as follows:

Monica - Elizabeth Baz

Madam Flora - Rose Nolan

Mrs Gobineau - Ellen Leather

Mr Gobineau - Oskar Koziolek-Goetz

Mrs Nolan - Alexandra Broneske

Toby - a mute (imagined)

Musical Director - Matthew Toogood

Come along and support these young artists by leaving a donation!!!

Kaffee in Berlin series: #9 EINSTEIN in Quartier 206 (neue/wieder Eröffnung)

EINSTEIN in Quartier 206

As you may be aware if you live in Berlin, Einstein Coffee is a Berlin chain of Coffee Houses, starting I believe with the original Einstein Villa in Schöneberg.

Now in Quartier 206 (C) MJT

The Einstein new opening on Friedrichstrasse in Quartier 206 is a welcome return to the area, as it was one of my original haunts when I first moved to Berlin.

Kaffee Einstein (C) MJT

Living long distance, I would spend hours each day skyping back to Australia in the cosy Coffee Shop close to my work. However the manager/owner decided to move to Savignyplatz, and the lease was taken over by a watch store (a watch store!! really??!! it was the best coffee for blocks!) However, Einstein Kaffee have now re-opened after a number of delays on the opposite side of the street in the centre of Quartier 206 in a much bigger store with upstairs seating. Directions here:

Espresso macchiato (C) MJT

While this is still a chain, the friendliness of the staff (particularly the manager) and the loyalty cards, makes this an extremely reliable place to grab a quick espresso, or if you are on a skype date enjoy a larger beverage such as the hot chocolate, or even for a lunch of cous cous salad or panini.

A quick espresso macchiato date (C) MJT

My only reservation is that the prices are slightly too high for a chain (particularly on lunch food) and there are now more places around Berlin to get good coffee. Given that the location is tourist central and Quartier 206 is considered hoighty-toighty, this is perhaps not so surprising.

Care of www.einstein-kaffee.de

In summary, EINSTEIN Kaffee in Quartier 206 comes in at a good recommendation, particularly if you are in the area around Checkpoint Charlie or Gendarmenmarkt and need a refresher:

Coffee: ★★★☆

Service: ★★★★☆

Atmosphere: ★★★★

Recommended Drink: Espresso macchiato or Hot Chocolate

Price: €1,80 or €3,50

Best Quality: Wifi, Service (particularly the manager) and atmosphere (now upstairs seating and in Quartier 206)

Burgers in Berlin: #1 District Môt

District Môt

Saigon Street Food

(C) MJT

Near the intersection of Rosenthaler Platz and on the corner of Mulackstrasse is a new(ish) vietnamese restaurant. Directions here:

We tried their Mittagsmenü when they first opened approximately a year and a half ago, and were intrigued but not overly impressed. 

Since then they have modified their menu, and their Bao Burger is an award winning creating in Berlin. 

  

(C) MJT

Basically if one is familiar with the dough of chinese buns (eg BBQ Pork Buns), this is the bread of the burger - so the texture and density is quite different to that of a regular burger. 

The ingredients are strong in flavour, enhanced particularly by the coriander and chili. 

Care of www.districtmot.com

The effort that has gone into making this Berlin corner restaurant resemble a busy Saigon street is impressive, if not a little too crowded - but that is probably part of the theme. 

While I would recommend trying the Bao Burger, I have to confess that I do find that the service is extremely poor - both in attendance and manner. Given the number of Vietnamese restaurants in Berlin, in order to compete, the service does need to improve.

More information regarding the regular menu can be found on their website: www.districtmot.com  however this does not have the Burger information, as it is usually a special item.