Thu, 05.11.2026
From the Silk Road via Venice to Constantinople

From Tradition to the Present – ​​A Performative Concert Without a Conductor.

The Bridges Chamber Orchestra presents one of its most successful programs (including performances at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg) in a new format: In this performative concert, the orchestra plays in its full complement without a conductor. This allows the orchestra members to interact with one another autonomously and independently, creating a powerful dynamic, energy, and direct communication. This communication also represents the centuries-long cultural exchange between East and West. Selected performative elements support both the (non)verbal communication within the orchestra and the audience's perception of moods and nuances.
The program consists of arrangements and compositions connected to musical styles that developed along the historical Silk Road. This region, geographically stretching from the Mediterranean and Levant through Central Asia to East Asia, saw Europe exchange not only various trade goods but also a wealth of knowledge, culture, musical instruments, and musical traditions.
From tradition to the present: The concert begins with arrangements of Antonio Vivaldi's famous La Follia and Hassan Kasaee's Salam, well-known in the Persian-speaking world, featuring works whose musical tradition and region of origin are clearly recognizable. As the concert progresses, the original compositions by the orchestra members—some written collectively—become increasingly transcultural. Origin, tradition, present, and future merge into an entirely new sound.

Program highlights:

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
, Arranger: Johanna-Leonore Dahlhoff;
La Follia;

Salim Salari (*1992), Rabie Azar (*1980), Peter Klohmann (*1986);
Alterity 2 4 what;

Gabriel Mientka (*1986)
; Constantinople