Behind the Wall

The RIAS Kammerchor, founded as a radio chorus in West Berlin in 1948, is devoted to promoting contemporary music by commissioning new works or rehearsing and performing the world premieres of new music. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the chorus presented a concert highlighting recent German history and particularly the theme of the Berlin Wall.
Germany is not the only country that has struggled with a dividing wall. In Korea, a wall still separates the southern half of the peninsula from the north. Cyprus is divided by a wall, though crossing the border has become somewhat easier. Israel had hoped that erecting a wall would bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian border area, and the United States is strengthening a wall to prevent more illegal immigration from Mexico. Around the world, walls symbolize violent conflicts and loss of freedom.
The RIAS Kammerchor commissioned the Palestinian-Israeli composer Samir Odeh-Tamimi to write the composition. His works combine European and Arabic themes. The Dresden-born artist Christian Lehnert wrote the libretto for the piece. His texts include Christian themes (the Passion, crucifixion) and historic European literary motifs, combined with stories of places where walls stand or are being erected. The world premiere took place in Berlin on 1 October 2010 with additional performances in Dresden, Ramallah and Jerusalem.

Artistic director: Hans-Christoph Rademann,
Artists: Samir Odeh-Tamimi (IL), Christian Lehnert, Rias Kammerchor, musikFabrik - Ensemble für Neue Musik,
Gesa Hoppe, Soprano
Christophe Mortagne, Tenor
Frank Wörner, Baritone
Romain Bischoff, Baritone
Hans-Christoph Rademann, Conductor

Venues and schedule:
Concert at Radialsystem V, Holzmarkststr. 33, Berlin, 1 October 2010 and 3 October 2010, 8 pm
Concert in Jerusalem, Himmelfahrtskirche, 12 October 2010, 8 pm
Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden, 16 October 2010, 8 pm
Workshop in Ramallah, 13 October 2010