Babylon Orchestra feat. Merve Akyildiz, Aly Keïta and others
Curated by Melissa Perales
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| Free admission |
| Seats: ticket booking required. Advance booking: 21 days in advance. Feel free to drop by even without a ticket – the Schlüter Courtyard offers many opportunities to linger! |
| The event will also take place in case of bad weather. If necessary, rain ponchos will be distributed. Please comply with the hygiene rules below. |
| Doors open: 19:00 |
| English, No language skills required |
| Accessible for wheelchairs |
| Ground Floor, Schlüter Courtyard |
| Belongs to: Airing Out. Open Air in the Schlüter Courtyard |
A diverse programme with live concerts, DJ sets, discussions, video art and performances offers the spotlight on artists whose work is a statement for a polyphonic, hybrid, and interconnected idea of culture, history and identity, regardless of their musical genres or countries of origin.
Together, they aim to create an interdisciplinary and cross cultural stage which intersects with a local and global community, inviting the audience to celebrate their talents and be part of a dialogue. The Berlin-based music curator Melissa Perales has created a programme of events on the main stage to invite a diverse community of musicians, artists, performers, thinkers and activists into the Schlüter Courtyard. Melissa Perales said of her programme: “The audience is invited to join us on a journey: Over the course of six weeks, the programme will bring together a group of talents who claim space, through their music and words for a critical dialogue. Who bring forth their individual stories, ask difficult questions, and give a voice to their ancestors. Our hope is that this spark will continue beyond the summer in discussions inside the Humboldt Forum spaces, and resonate beyond.”
An alternative hip-hop artist and songwriter, Caxxiane has been active on the Berlin scene for some years. She combines her musical creativity with her poetry and her political views: “Caxxianne’s work takes you to a place where words become freedom, a place where Black people and People of Colour are uplifted.” (press info)
Language: English
Aly Keïta was born into a musical family, growing up surrounded by traditional instruments like the djembe and kora. His favourite instrument was the balafon, for which he has gained a global reputation. Although rooted in tradition, Keïta’s Afro-pop and funk-heavy rhythm band and his penchant for complex, jazz-oriented arrangements set him far apart from most balafonists. He plays for the Humboldt Forum as a member of the Resident Music Collective.
Founded in 2016, the Babylon Orchestra is an urban Berlin fusion ensemble blending European and Middle-Eastern music with a Big Band/contemporary orchestra sound. It draws together people with different stories, songs, instruments and rhythms. By combining and juxtaposing classical and traditional instruments, such as oud and guitar, ney and flute, kamanche and violin, the ensemble aims to promote a deeper understanding of non-European cultures. The orchestra also sees itself as a platform for exceptional musicians who do not want to force their art into classical or popular music forms, but want to find their own mode of expression, specific to their countries of origin.
The Babylon Orchestra will be accompanied by singer and pianist Merve Akyıldız. Turkish singer and pianist Merve Akyıldız will give several concerts with the Babylon Orchestra this year and record a new EP together, which will be released at the end of 2021. The award-winning musician, who has been studying the folk music of her homeland and the Balkans for years in addition to her classical music training, has been performing with her band in Turkey and abroad since 2018.
Website Babylon Orchestra Berlin
unVEILed VOL.5 – Online Festival – Babylon ORCHESTRA (YouTube)
Hygiene rules
- Visitors are required to complete the accreditation process before attending the event using the Robert Koch Institute’s “Corona Warn-App” (available via the Apple App Store and Google Play), which requires each visitor to submit their personal information.
- All visitors who are within the premises are required to carry along a medical mask that covers their nose and their mouth.
- Home-made coverings, scarves, cravats and non-medical masks are not considered acceptable replacements for medical masks.
- Visitors are required to wear their masks in all areas of the event where it is not possible to maintain a minimum social distance of 1.5m from other visitors. Masks may be removed when visitors are seated.
- There is no requirement for visitors to be tested for Covid-19 before visiting the daytime or evening events.