School Concert – Mike Svoboda: Once Around the World

Nikolaisaal

Kreiskulturhaus Seelow

This family concert for the eyes and ears takes us around the world and into another era. We follow in the footsteps of a mysterious explorer and adventurer who, 100 years ago, is said to have traveled from Hastings in England to Japan to explore and collect a wide variety of music. He reaches the most remote corners and encounters the most entertaining music of all kinds – from the sound of accordions to the drone of alphorns. Music from Europe, Africa, America, and Asia comes together in a humorous and entertaining way.

Family Concert – Mike Svoboda: Once Around the World – An Interplay of Text, Image, and Music

Polish College

After his opera "Adam and Eve", resident artist Mike Svoboda is a guest at the festival with another amusing program.

Do you love Wagner?

Rococo Theater

When he was barely 18, Friedrich Hölderlin wrote the monumental poem The Books of the Ages . Based on the books of the biblical story of revelation, Hölderlin tells in three parts of the "atrocities of the earthly race", redemption through Christ, the achievements of humanity and the just reward for this. Mike Svoboda entrusts the proclamation of this apocalyptic vision to three female voices, thereby drawing a connection to mythological figures such as the three Norns. The three singers spin the text into inextricable sound structures and allow words from the biblical imagery to emerge. Man, we hear, can become equal to God through the greatness of his deeds. When Svoboda focuses on the tonal interpretation of the text, he expands the vocal trio to a quartet with the trombone and emphasizes the archaic nature of the poem in his sound language. This character is also reflected in several of the drummer’s sounds, which he uses as much dry birch branches as water and gravel.

The Books of the Times

Schlossgarten Schwetzingen

At the beginning of May, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt) will perform a world premiere opera at the Schwetzingen SWR Festival. The festival will open with the premiere of "Adam and Eve" by the American trombonist, composer, and conductor Mike Svoboda – a music theatre piece for six singers, one actor, choir, and orchestra, based on the comedy of the same name by Peter Hacks, commissioned by SWR and the Linz State Theatre.

EPSG:4326

Schwetzingen SWR Festival

Music theatre in a prologue and three acts by Mike Svoboda (music) and Anne-May Krüger (libretto) based on Peter Hacks' comedy of the same name

Mike Svoboda

Events

Upcoming events

1 - 8 Dec, 2025

School Concert – Mike Svoboda: Once Around the World · Brandenburgischen Staatsorchesters Frankfurt

Past events

1 - 8 Dec, 2025

School Concert – Mike Svoboda: Once Around the World · Brandenburgischen Staatsorchesters Frankfurt

Nov 30, 2025

Family Concert – Mike Svoboda: Once Around the World – An Interplay of Text, Image, and Music · Brandenburgischen Staatsorchesters Frankfurt

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Once Around the World by Svoboda

Brandenburgischen Staatsorchesters Frankfurt

Conductor in Adam and Eve by Svoboda

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

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