Time spent with cats is never wasted. (Sigmund Freud)
Ein Kater In New York (Tomcat in New York) family concert
Open Air Museum Kiekeberg, 7th September 2014
The concept of these concerts is usually a story is told by a narrator, there is an actor to act out some scenes and some classical musicians playing some largely well known classical or musical numbers. This year it was a story based on various stories with main inspiration being "Puss In Boots" and music numbers advertised as largely being 1930s musical numbers though I had the feeling there was largely just a numerous repeat of West Side Story's "America" as one half and more classic numbers the other half.
But that did not impact the enjoyment of that concert too much. Why these concerts are so special is how they are set up and that the main focus is on getting children interested in classical music through story telling.
Taking place in one of the old farm houses (the museum focuses on showing how people lived in the area in past up to two centuries ago) the front section is reserved for the little ones and it is amazing to watch how fascinated most of them are by what is happenung on the stage. I just wished the museum would go back to the seating setting as in the last seasons as now, with the building ground being even, am sure many people at back cannot see much anymore. Well as I was there early due to buses just every hour I got a seat just behind the kids so I personally cannot complain about mine but I heard others after the show not being happy.
Overall it was a lovely concert even with just 45 minutes long shorter than in last seasons but the musicians, the four piece clarinet ensemble ViF, the narrator Martin Sieveking and particularly Jan Radermacher made it special.
Seeing Jan is always most special, such a shame that he pretty much had to give up his stage career but these once off events which I cannot miss even if not a big thing.
I really like it how much passion he puts in these. Having seen others doing such events I often got feeling that these not so big events are just another job for them to pay the bills but with Jan it is just simply different.
I rarely see such love and attention to detail in someone's performance as his as little as the job may be. It seems that whatever he does, whether performing, writing, directing etc., it always comes directly from the bottom of his heart.
It is also always incredible how much time is put in preparation by the team - especially the props, usually (as far as I know) prepared by Jan, are so well thought through being simple but working very cleverly and being most effective.
I am already looking forward to next year's concert which I cannot miss!
Overall it was a lovely concert even with just 45 minutes long shorter than in last seasons but the musicians, the four piece clarinet ensemble ViF, the narrator Martin Sieveking and particularly Jan Radermacher made it special.
Seeing Jan is always most special, such a shame that he pretty much had to give up his stage career but these once off events which I cannot miss even if not a big thing.
I really like it how much passion he puts in these. Having seen others doing such events I often got feeling that these not so big events are just another job for them to pay the bills but with Jan it is just simply different.
I rarely see such love and attention to detail in someone's performance as his as little as the job may be. It seems that whatever he does, whether performing, writing, directing etc., it always comes directly from the bottom of his heart.
It is also always incredible how much time is put in preparation by the team - especially the props, usually (as far as I know) prepared by Jan, are so well thought through being simple but working very cleverly and being most effective.
I am already looking forward to next year's concert which I cannot miss!
More information about the location and other events taking place there (in German) can be found on the official Kiekeberg museum website.
