Camera: Jonny Müller-Goldenstedt
Editing: Martin Langhof
Concept & Realisation: Jonas Beckmann

A portrait on the work of the Balthasar Neumann Academy in Cuba and Europa by Jonny Müller-Goldenstedt

See how the Balthasar Neumann Choir & Ensemble are working to preserve the European ideal. This ideal is our future, which is why it’s important to us to keep going!

A film by Miro Widmer & Moritz Willenegger // Graphic Design: Noé Herrmann // Subtitles: Margaret Hunter // Produced by Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble e.V. / Büro für internationale Kulturprojekte

Ensemble work is a team sport! Musicians have to train as individuals, but then, just as in team sports, they also have to train together. Both aspects are very important and that is a really important reason why we do these projects – so that we can keep holding onto the extremely high level of quality which we have worked for!

A film by Miro Widmer & Moritz Willenegger // Graphic Design: Noé Herrmann // Subtitles: Margaret Hunter // Produced by Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble e.V. / Büro für internationale Kulturprojekte

"Something like a coronavirus can come along, but then you have to find ways to make music anyway!" // "Keeping distance is a compromise." // "The more sensitively we are used to making music and the longer we have made music together, the more painful this distance is." // "The 'Creation' couldn't be a more fitting piece for this project. It's a 're-creation'. We want to make music again, because it's relevant!"
Recorded at the Konzerthaus Dortmund, September 2020

A Film by Miro Widmer & Moritz Willenegger // Color Grading: Jonathan Hug // Subtitles: Margaret Hunter // Produced by Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble e.V. / Büro für internationale Kulturprojekte

Insights and Opinions: Making Music as Freelancers in a Pandemic.
We talked to our musicians about their life during the past months. Recorded and produced at the end of October, 2020 in Baden-Baden (Festspielhaus). Last big public concerts before the lockdown-light.

A film by Miro Widmer Moritz Willenegger // Color Grading: Jonathan Hug // Graphic Design: Noé Herrmann // Subtitles: Margaret Hunter // Produced by Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble e.V. / Büro für internationale Kulturprojekte

Everything is Gone? Freelance Musicians in the Crisis.
Recorded and produced at the end of October, 2020 in Baden-Baden (Festspielhaus).
Last big public concerts before the lockdown-light.

A film by Miro Widmer & Moritz Willenegger // Color Grading: Jonathan Hug // Graphic Design: Noé Herrmann // Subtitles: Margaret Hunter // Produced by Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble e.V. / Büro für internationale Kulturprojekte

Keep going! Streaming production and concerts during a pandemic in December 2020
"We can do this, and it’s going to work, people! We can keep going and do something wonderful in these times."

A film by Miro Widmer & Moritz Willenegger // Graphic Design: Noé Herrmann // Subtitles: Margaret Hunter // Produced by: Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble e.V. / Büro für internationale Kulturprojekte

In February 2021, despite lockdowns and curfews as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, the directors of the Château made a large-scale music video project possible by opening their doors to the ensemble’s musicians from all over Europe. In this way, together with the Château de Fontainebleau, Thomas Hengelbrock and his Balthasar Neumann Ensembles took a public stand for music, for audiences, and for the survival of culture in our society during the pandemic.

Recorded in February 2021
Château de Fontainebleau, Cour oval

Recorded in February 2021
Château de Fontainebleau, Salle de Bal

Recorded in February 2021
Château de Fontainebleau, Galérie François 1er

Bobbie Blommesteijn, Soprano

Recorded in February 2021
Château de Fontainebleau, Salle des Colonnes

Recorded in February 2021
Château de Fontainebleau, Galérie François 1er

Jennie Lomm, Soprano
Terry Wey, Alto
Jakob Pilgram, Tenor
Andrey Akhmetov, Bariton
Margret Köll, Harp
Michele Pasotti, Lute
Andreas Küppers, Cembalo
Nicola dal Maso, Violone

Recorded in February 2021
Château de Fontainebleau, Salle des Colonnes

Terry Wey, Alto
Margret Köll, Harp
Michele Pasotti, Lute
Andreas Küppers, Cembalo
Nicola dal Maso, Violone

Live Streaming from the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, 20.12.2020