Gotha celebrates old music: Gülden autumn 2024 invites you!

Gotha celebrates old music: Gülden autumn 2024 invites you!

The Festival Güldener Herbst, a highlight of the old music in Thuringia, will take place in Gotha this year from September 27th to 29th, 2024. In its third edition, the festival will be shaped by its residence format in the historical city. Under the motto "Musik.inovation" it is celebrated in important and extraordinary places such as the baroque Ekhof Theater, the magnificent ballroom in the Friedenstein Castle and in the two churches of Augustiner and Margarethenkirche.

anticipation for the upcoming events is already awakened by the organizers and the festival manager Gerd Amelung. "The last edition I planned is particularly important to me," says Amelung. According to his statement, the return to Gotha is also a sign of appreciation for the support of the new concept by the city.

opening with special features

The festival opening will take place on September 27th at 7.30 p.m. in the Margarethenkirche. Here the ensemble of polyharmonique will perform an exciting work: Wolfgang Carl Briegel's "fine", a 17th century vowel plant. This composer was an important figure in Gotha, where he worked as an organist, court bandmaster and music teacher.

This year's festival has been committed to the topic of the innovations in music history. The upheaval in music at the time of the first opera performances around 1600 is compared with the transition to twelve -tone technology in the 20th century. Furthermore, the tenor Francesco Rasi, a famous one for his role in the first oratorio of Monteverdi, will pay special attention on the occasion of his 450th birthday. At the final concert, which is planned for September 29th at 4:00 p.m. in the Ekhof Theater, the ensemble Les Épopées will take part, rounded off by the soprano Claire Lefilliâtre and the tenor Juan Sancho.

a varied program

Festival goers can look forward to a varied program. On September 28th at 7.30 p.m., the cooperation with the Baroque Orchestra of the Thuringia Philharmonic Gotha-Eisenach in the Ekhof Theater, where works by Gotha Kapellmeister Georg Anton Benda will be heard, will be a highlight of the festival. In addition, a melodrama, "Medea", is listed, which further enriches the facets of musical performances.

A very special experience awaits the festival goers on September 28th at 10:30 p.m. in the Fall room of Schloss Friedenstein. Here Claudia Mende appear with the baroque violin and Gerd Amelung on the Silbermann hammer wing. The combination of these sonorous instruments will surely captivate the audience.

The new festival manager, Alice Lackner, will already be present as part of the country area on September 28th. The meeting point is at 11.30 a.m. at the Augustinian Church, where the soprano, together with the organist Jens Goldhardt, will discover the historical organs in Gotha's picturesque area. This will be a wonderful opportunity to get to know the cultural and musical diversity of the region better.

Tickets for all events are now available and can be purchased on the official website of the festival or via Reservix. The diverse offers and the wonderful backdrop of Gothas make the Festival Gülden autumn an unforgettable experience for music lovers and those interested in culture.

The value of the old music

The preservation and reinterpretation of old music are of great importance for the cultural heritage and music training. Festivals such as the Gülden autumn not only offer artists a platform, but also enliven the interest in musical traditions. These events not only promote the appreciation of historical compositions, but also inspire new generations of musicians and audiences.

The Gülden autumn festival for old music not only brings back the wealth of historical music traditions back into the memory, but also promotes contemporary examination of these legacy. This year's festival, which will take place in Gotha from September 27th to 29th, 2024, has the important task of beating the bridge between the past and the present. The selection of event locations, including the baroque Ekhof Theater and the Margarethenkirche, play a central role in keeping the acoustic and visual experience of historical music alive.

The festival concept is based on the idea of the residence formats as developed in Gotha. This means that artists and ensembles are not only invited to individual performances, but are much more intensely involved in the cultural exchange with the region. This type of event promotes the local music scene and enables visitors to experience a deeper connection to the cultural roots of the Thuringia region. At a time when classical music is often perceived as elitist or inaccessible, the festival relies on innovative programs and participation.

Another aspect that stands out is the rediscovery of works that have been forgotten for a long time. The presentation of Wolfgang Carl Briegel's “fine”, which belongs as a world re-performance of the festival, underlines the emerging tendency to put historical compositions back in the right light. Briegel, which is considered an important composer of the 17th century and had close connections to the Gothaer Hof, is not only honored by this performance, but also attributed to modern awareness.

meaning of historical performance practice

Historical performance practice has established itself as an important area of music culture in recent decades. Ensembles such as polyharmonique, which specialize in the vocal music of the 17th century, use original instruments and historical styles to enable an authentic listening experience. This practice not only includes instrumentation, but also the performance technology, the interpretations and the performance conditions of the respective time. In the context of the Güldenen Autumn Festival, this means that the audience can immerse themselves in the acoustic and emotional world of the 17th century.

Progress in research open up new perspectives on well -known and less well -known works. This gives music scientists and artists the opportunity to re -evaluate and prepare musical currents. The recognition of composers such as Briegel helps to preserve and keep the cultural heritage of a region alive, which is of great importance for cultural identity.

statistics on visitor development and pricing

The number of visitors for the Gülden autumn festival show promising developments. In 2023, for example, over 1,500 visitors came to the events, an increase of around 15% compared to the previous year. In order to enable broader access, ticket prices were staggered, which provides for a discount of up to 50% in particular for students and young people. These price strategies reflect a growing commitment to cultural education and participation in the region.

Due to these measures and the diverse range of concerts and workshops, the Gülden autumn becomes not only a highlight of musical life in Thuringia, but also a platform for the sustainable presentation and appreciation of old music traditions. Further information and tickets are available on the official website of the festival: www.gueldenerer-herbst.de .