Literature meets music: discover the secrets of the violins in Esslingen!

Literature meets music: discover the secrets of the violins in Esslingen!

A very special event will take place in Esslingen on August 24, 2025: The “Exquisite Places” event will be held in the heart of the city, in the workshop of the renowned violin maker Eberhard Thiessen. This unique reading, designed by the passionate literary educator Gerhard Polacek, offers a fascinating connection between literature and music and thus attracts music lovers and those interested in literature alike. The workshop, known for its numerous string instruments - many of which were carefully restored by Thiessen - becomes the setting for a stimulating discussion of literary texts on the subject of music.

The event is part of a long-term series organized since 2011 by the city library, Polacek and a local newspaper. The aim of this series is to present literature in extraordinary places and to invite readers on a special kind of journey of discovery. Tickets often sell out quickly because demand is high. Polacek has a keen sense of selecting literary texts that suit the ambience of the workshop, and he will read texts by greats such as Anton Chekhov, Heinz Erhardt, Tabea Zimmermann, Karl Valentin, Heinrich Böll, Anton Kuh and Franz Werfel. Of course he will also have his own literary miniatures with him.

Insight into the art of violin making

Eberhard Thiessen, who has been working in Esslingen since 2001, will be presented at this event not only as a master violin maker, but also as a passionate musician who actively plays in orchestras, including the Süddeutsche Philharmonie. His workshop is a place full of stories, secrets and, above all, the artistry that goes into making violins. Visitors to the event can look forward to interesting insights into the secrets of violin making and can even actively participate by setting the rhythm.

“Exquisite Places” is more than just a reading; It is a harmonious symbiosis of sound and words that opens up entry into the world of music and literature in a new way. This also shows how deeply rooted the cultural events are in the region and what importance they have for the city community.

Cultural highlights in the region

Similar events also take place in other cities and regions, reflecting the richness of Germany's cultural landscape. At the same time as the reading in Esslingen, for example, Frankfurt Book Fair take place, an annual highlight for book lovers, during the Beethoven Festival Bonn in the fall with performances of Beethoven's works. The cultural diversity is as dynamic as it is exciting and offers something for every taste.

With events like the planned evening in Eberhard Thiessen's workshop, Esslingen impressively shows how literature and music can come together in a unique setting. If you want to experience the connection between sound and words, you should mark this date in your calendar - it could be one of the most beautiful cultural journeys of discovery of the year.