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Einstein On The Beach

premiere

"Einstein on the Beach" at MärzMusik

If there is such a thing as a big bang of musical theater, it is "Einstein on the Beach" by Robert Wilson and Philip Glass. And now it is showing in Berlin.

Streaming Audio

Concert Hour

Patricia Kopatchinskaja

Live recordings of the world's music stars performing in Germany's palaces, churches and concert halls.

This week: Patricia Kopatchinskaja at the Beethovenfest Bonn (Pt. 1 of 2)

Listen to the program

Portrait of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Music calendar

The "Great Bach" turns 300

In his lifetime, C.P.E. Bach was more famous than his father, Johann Sebastian Bach. His music continued to influence composers for generations to follow.

Last week

Glenn Miller, king of swing

His music hits you straight in the legs. Even today, the typical Glenn Miller sound is part of the standard repertoire for many big band groups. The swinging hero of the dance floor was born 110 years ago.

Past editions

DW's Music Calendar

cultural monument

From beer hall to Beethoven mecca

An exterior view of the Beethoven House in Bonn

Beethoven's birth house still stands in Bonn thanks to a citizens' initiative 125 years ago. Special attractions and an exhibition mark the date.

on tours

A 'tender demon' - pianist Daniil Trifonov

Pianist Daniil Trifonov (c) picture-alliance/dpa

In 2011, Daniil Trifonov won the legendary Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, at age 20. Three years later, the shy young man, who finds it easier to communicate in music than in words, is a star.

New release

The Notwist (c) Jörg Koopmann

The Notwist

The indie pop band from Bavaria is back after leaving fans waiting for years for a new release.

Substance abuse

A series of famous musicians' portraits - each of whom died an early death (c) picture-alliance/dpa

Intoxicating stardom

Theories about as to why, but it's clear that music stardom is often tied to drug excesses.

medicine

Treating the aches and pains of playing music

Treatment of a violinist at the musicians' clinic in Düsseldorf (c) Musikerambulanz am UKD

Violinists' eczema, painful joints, muscle cramps, tinnitus - around 70 percent of professional musicians suffer from ailments associated with their jobs. But the doctor is in at a musicians' clinic in Düsseldorf.

truth or fiction?

Scheming the way to a hit

Milli Vanilli performing on stage (c) picture-alliance/dpa

The history of the pop duo Milli Vanilli reads like a Hollywood film and has all the drama of a Puccini opera, but the duo's deception is hardly unique among those driving for musical fame and success.

premiere

Communal composition in Dessau, the "Tweetfonie"

Kurt Weill Fest Tweetfonie Dessau

Facing budget cuts, the Anhaltian Theater in the city of Dessau and its Kurt Weill Festival launched a protest called a "Tweetfonie," proving that necessity is the mother of invention.
  • Bildergalerie Gentleman in Nigeria

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    Political and musical shrine

    The "Shrine" in Lagos was founded by Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti. After Nigeria's military government destroyed it in the 1970s, it was rebuilt. Not many international artists have the honor of performing here, but the German reggae musician Gentleman is now among them. On Sunday (23.02.2014), he shared the stage with Fela Kuti's son, Femi.

  • Bildergalerie Gentleman in Nigeria

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    'Unbelievable vibe'

    "It's really an incredible feeling: First everyone was sitting, but then they came right up to the stage and started singing along with my lyrics," Gentleman said. Although jazz-inflected Afrobeat differs quite a bit from reggae and its catchy riffs, both genres have roots in Africa - and quite often, they make clear political statements.

  • Afrika Fela Kuti mit Fans

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    More than a musician

    Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti wasn't just an artist. He was well-known as a political activist. The fight for freedom and social inequality in Nigeria came to dominate his lyrics. In the early 80s, the military government put him in jail for 18 months, but the authorities couldn't quell his constantly rising popularity.

  • Afrika Auftritt Fela Kuti mit Tänzerinnen

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    Freedom fighter or demagogue?

    Fela Kuti remains controversial into the present - he repeatedly agitated friends and foes alike with his eccentric behavior. He was known for drug excesses and married 27 women on a single day in a mass ceremony. His lyrics contain numerous passages that critics consider sexist and homophobic.

  • Bildergalerie Femi Kuti Backstage

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    Different era, different message

    Fela Kuti's son Femi and other family members are carrying on the musician's legacy. In 2000, they expanded the New Afrika Shrine. But Femi says his views differ from his father on many points: "Some perspectives just change over time." It was also Femi Kuti's idea to secure a guest performance from Gentleman.

  • Bildergalerie New Afrika Shrine Lagos, Nigeria

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    'Viva Africa'

    One thing remains unchanged. For Nigerians, the Shrine is much more than just a place to make music. It stands for a certain attitude towards life. And Afrobeat continues to operate as a political force that government officials aren't always comfortable with.

  • Bildergalerie Musiker Gentleman im Plattenladen

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    Colorful music scene

    Traditional Hausa music, Afro-juju, Waka, Yoruba rap - the music shop Jazzhole leaves no doubt that Nigeria's scene has much more on offer than just Afrobeat. Gentleman stopped by after his concert at the Shrine, calling it one of the most impressive record stores he'd ever been to.

  • Bildergalerie Musiker Gentleman im Plattenladen

    Gentleman's Nigerian Tour

    Snapshot with a star

    Shop owner Tundun Teyuoso and her husband Ola Kunle have run Jazzhole for 25 years together, and she was happy to welcome Gentleman. The couple try to reflect the diversity of African music in their collection, and they even have their German guest's music on offer. After all, Teyuoso says, it's not about the performer's nationality or skin color, but about the music he or she makes.


    Author: Adrian Kriesch, Jan-Philipp Scholz / gsw

German reggae in Africa, courtesy of Gentleman

New Africa Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria

Back at home, Cologne-based reggae musician Gentleman is a household name, and his songs are even played in Jamaica. Now he's touring in Africa and running into some musical surprises along the way.

German Pop - Gentleman

German Pop archive

Meet Heisskalt

Meet Tim Bendzko

All past editions of the podcast

Ja, Panik - polyglot pirate romanticism?

The members of Ja, Panik (c) picture-alliance/dpa

A story goes that Madagascar was home in the late 17th century to a republic called Libertatia where liberty, equality and fraternity were more than just utopian ideals. Berlin's Ja, Panik takes up the theme in music.

German Pop - Ja, Panik

Midem

CES 2014 Smartphones Tablette

The path forward

Music industry revenues have been battered since 2000, but some see a big payout on the way.

Music Conference

Jason Vandal Schadt, performing on stage (c) The MoveMint

Hip-hop in Malaysia

The country's urban music scene reflects its diversity, unifying Malay, Chinese and Tamil voices.

Jennifer Rostock

Describing their music as "too pretty for indie, too obscene for mainstream," the Berlin musicians headed to the US to record their new album.