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The Elijah I listened to at the Berlin Philharmonie on 8.3.2026 is the kind of version where Mendelssohn would be watching from heaven and smiling with utmost satisfaction. Having heard Benjamin Appls excellent and moving interpretations of Bachs St. Matthew and St. John Passions, I had been anticipating his interpretation of Mendelssohns Elijah. Personally, the …
This book should be translated into as many languages as possible, and every library should have at least one copy of it. A moving and beautifully written verse novel based on the life of the first climate scientist, Eunice Newton Foote (1819–1888). In a scientific article she published in 1856, she wrote:“An atmosphere of that …
The country was freed when the Soviet Union dissolved. However, the old powers were still waiting for a chance to snap back, while other bullies were already eyeing the oil and human resources — whether foreign powers, insecure and revenge-seeking neighbours, or homegrown dictators. People are trapped in bad governance, walking a tightrope to stay …
(scroll down for German review) During his lifetime, Caspar David Friedrich was often criticized. Viewers found his paintings too dark and too melancholic. They were weary of his endless winters, clouds, and mist. Many complained that his figures turn their backs to us, the famous Rückenfigur, denying us a clear view of their faces and …
“A white hand wavesFrom fairy tales of old,Where there are sounds and songsOf a magic land.” — Aus alten Märchen winkt es, Heinrich Heine The Liederabend was indeed an entry into a magical land of sounds and songs. Our guides for the evening were Benjamin (baritone) and James (piano), who led us through the poetic …
“One Line a Day” is a diary I received as a gift, and I have been using it for a year now. Honestly, I did not fill in every page last year. This year, I want to be more consistent. Having five years recorded on the same page for the same date helps me reflect …
The CD I have been waiting for over 19 days finally arrived today, and I realised that I had never written a proper review of my absolute favourite Christmas album. Today, I am putting that right. If you are interested in reading this review, you are probably more interested in my personal thoughts than in …
In September 1710, ten-year-old Agata buried her mother. She was left with her frail grandmother and her incompetent father. Wanting Agata to be protected and educated, her grandmother entrusted her to the care of the Ospedale della Pietà — a convent, orphanage, and music school for girls. The second and third parts of the book …
This historical fiction is set during the Second World War, amid the London Blitz, told through the eyes of children and teenagers. The teenage budding love, the romance between a soldier and a war officer, and the friendships formed around the music club were all heartwarming to read. Some parts felt a little too good …
Will and Lu travel to Seville for their second honeymoon, exactly during Semana Santa (Holy Week). It’s a wonderful mix of magical realism, time travel, and doppelgängers, with vivid imagery that reminded me of the film The Grand Budapest Hotel. I could imagine myself in Seville, capturing a picture of a café painted bright yellow, …