This yearly charity event started back in 1989 and takes place once per year in the shores of Hollersee, a little lake in front of the famous Park Hotel in the heart of Bremen. The Youth Symphony Orchestra of Bremen (and their international partner musicians) captivate the thousands of visitors every year with their wonderful performance, in spite of rain and thunder, with both classical and more modern pieces. This year, among Strauss and co. they took a shift into Waka Waka by Shakira orchestra style and Chim Chim Cher-ee from our all-time favourite nanny Mary Poppins (part of the Oscar-winning score by The "Sherman Brothers").
The music is accompanied by the astonishing pyrotechnic work of Georg Friedrich Händels Feuerwerkmusik (Georg Friedrich Handel's Fireworks Music), a genius mix of high and low, twisting and sparkling fireworks that wow the public. This year's start (in my opinion) were the little water-sparkling fireworks. A ray of lights was shot into the water...we all thought it was an accident until they started dancing in the water with a myriad of colours.
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| As you can probably tell, it was pouring! |
In addition to the brilliant tunes and the fireworks, the lake is inundated by torches that can be purchased at the access ways to the area. The money raised by the sale of the torches goes to the maintenance of the Bürgerpark (location of Park Hotel and Hollersee) and the charity Orchester zu Gute.
And as it couldn't be any other way, the closing act of the evening was, like every year, the interpretation of the traditional song Der Mond ist aufgegangen (Song of evening or The moon has risen), a poem by Matthias Claudius with melody by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz, and everyone joins in on the singing.
The combination of all three aspects of this wonderful concert creates an magical atmosphere worth, no matter rain or snow, the visit. So next September pack up your picnic basket with your favourite delicacies, some warm tea, wine and/or champagne, wrap up in warm comfy clothes (and a rain-jacket), and head down to the park for a night you won't easily forget, I promise you. I know it's still a bit early, but that way you'll have plenty of time to prepare!
