Teatime and Cellos on Planet Germany

 RhineBuzz is pleased to present a new series of events beginning on
October 3rd at Kwadrat in Pempelfort 
Kindly sponsored by 
The International School on the Rhine in Neuss
http://www.internationale-schule.de
I interviewed Cathy Dobson about her amusing book Planet Germany back in 2008. I knew then that one day I'd like to stage a reading with her and so we are delighted that Planet Germany is kicking off our new events which will bring you face to face with the many colourful creative souls that make up the international community in this area.
This book is about expat life - if you've been here for a while, you will recognise so much to grin about ... Cathy's & her family's adventures are always heart-warming and quite often just simply hilarious!
Planet Germany has received rave reviews from various publications including the Telegraph and has recently been featured in the German press also. The Planet Germany blog has also just won an award, well done Cathy on your fabulous success!
Come and meet Cathy, who lives locally, and listen to a few of her stories - there will be much to smile about.
Cathy will be of course be offering book signing session if you'd like to purchase your own copy.


A couple of weeks ago a young music student from the Robert Schumann Music School asked if I might know anywhere where she could play. Caroline Hobbs has studied music in the UK and now is taking a masters at Düsseldorf's prestigious music school. The RhineBuzz audience I knew would appreciate her great talent and so to accompany this reading, Caroline Hobbs from Australia and Sarah Spence from Scotland will also entertain us with two magnificent cellos and music by Beethoven, Telemann and Albinez.
RhineBuzz has also come up with another couple of venues for Caroline to play at including a private corporate event - she is delighted! It's always worth talking to us if there is something you too would like to do. We will do our best to give you the opportunity to share this with the ever-growing, colourful RhineBuzz crowd.
Caroline Hobbs
Sarah Spence
                
Come and join us for Teatime at Kwadrat with beautiful music and very funny stories from Planet Germany.

Kwadrat, Blücherstrasse 51, 
40477 Düsseldorf at 5pm

Global Player Party


Francis Gay from funkhaus europa
Global Player Party I © WDR


Great Party! Thank you Altstadtherbst and funkhaus europa
Happy Birthday Soundclash at Con-Sum
Christina Annabelle is our winner!

Altstadtherbst have kindly given RhineBuzz two tickets to win to their Twentieth Birthday Party, The Global Player Party, on October 2nd at the brilliant Con-Sum, a historic bread factory just outside Düsseldorf city centre.
The Global Player Party looks like it could have been created for us - celebrating the best dance sounds from all over the globe, five djs and five performers live on stage - the music will take you from Baile Funk from Rio to Balkan Beats, from North Africa Sounds to Digital Cumbia.


Last week, new Düsseldorfer Sofia from Ecuador and I met Francis Gay from funkhaus europa (check out the great web radio links) who are hosting the party. An absolute connoisseur of world music, internationally renowed, he is a charming guy who is so obviously passionate about great sounds and cultures. This will be a fabulous party!
To win, tell us who gloriously entertained us from Japan and USA at our launch party in November 2008.
Answer on here on www.RhineBuzz.com
Email win@rhinebuzz.com Correct answer number 20 wins the two tickets. We will notify you and request your mailing address to send the tickets to you.
We would like to name you on the website.
Sorry, all RhineBuzz facebook administrators are excluded from taking part. 
 I do hope you all come and join us at the party ...
You can all purchase tickets here

Rachel Grimes at the Approximation Festival

http://www.approximation-festival.de/dasFestival


The Approximation Festival at Salon des Amateurs
September 29 to October 3 2010


Thursday was a great, great evening! We can highly recommend the remaining performances, but do reserve tickets. The venue is small and it was very popular!
Rachel Grimes opened with soothing and wonderful sounds, telling us tales of composing music during the day at a retreat and then hanging out with 
nuns on the porch and sharing Maker's Mark together.
Aki Takase, who followed Rachel onstage was something else.
WoW! 
Right now I can describe her as an action painter who launched her entire being onto the piano: body, mind and soul. 
Certainly a performer you shouldn't miss if you ever have the chance to see her!


The Approximation Festival brings you ten artists over five days from six countries - all with the common theme of interpreting the piano anew at the popular Salon des Amateurs on the edge of the Altstadt.
Look at the programme and listen to the tracks online, you are treated to a very good idea of what is coming up, a true mix of music for piano.
Music to be stimulated by ... 
Music to drift off to another world to ...

Tickets are just €12 from the offices listed here
€14 on the night. The capacity of the club allows just 150 tickets to be sold - so buy in advance and don’t be disappointed.
First off is Rachel Grimes from Louisville, Kentucky. She is playing on September 29 at 9pm.
Her music has been described by Adam Young on mtv.com as “molasses-sweet melodies”
"Her music allows me to drop what I'm doing and take wing among lush treetops and cloudscapes, sweet dreams swirled all around me like room-temperature liquid and poured back out into the atmosphere."
Rachel Grimes

It says it all.
I am hugely looking forward to this concert and hope to see a good crowd of the RhineBuzzers out there supporting and enjoying these hugely talented musicians.

Nam June Paik Sept 11 - Nov 21

Days On Stage

A BIG thank you to altstadtherbst for a beautiful evening at the Tonhalle last night with Mozart's Requiem. We especially enjoyed the Choir of the Görres Gymnasium - they were fabulous, as was the conductor Ulrich Brall. It was just wonderful to see what a great time everyone was having. The joy on the children's faces and their families in the audience just was second to none! 
 You produce such a wonderful festival.


I'm surprised by how many people ask me what the marquee in the centre of town on Burgplatz is for!
There's a box office right at the side - go in and ask! If you don't, you are missing out on one of Düsseldorf's most enchanting festivals, altstadtherbst.
This celebration of the performing arts is in full swing now and continues until October 3rd, several performances are sold out, but there are still tickets available for some dates. You can buy online here or at the box office by the side of the marquee.
Wednesday evening there is a performance of Mozart's Requiem in the former planetarium that is now one of Germany's most gorgeous concert halls The Tonhalle.
The sound installation Forty Part Motet is happening every day until Sept 28th at Con-Sum from 6pm. It's free an well worth a trip to the former bread factory on Ronsdorferstrasse in Lierenfeld. The performance lasts 15 minutes and is repeated until 8pm.

Photo: Andrés Marín | © Luis Castilla

Also coming up is the flamenco dancer extraordinaire Andrés Marin.
Passionate, daring and experimental is how he has been described! On stage 25, 26 and 27th Sept. Tickets still available.
I was fortunate enough to have a ticket for the sold out Le Cirque Invisible with Victoria Chaplin and Jean-Baptiste Thierée. Quite simply, stunningly magical is how I can describe I what I saw. The show consisted of a series of mini performances, mostly involving simple props of the old school of theatre and magic. The element of surprise never left us for one moment. You just never knew what was coming up next, be it bunnies on stage or mysterious oriental creatures which unfolded from layers of dresses and fabric. This fascinating show entertained in every sense of the world with charm, much humour and beauty without the aid of any technology.

©Gert Weigelt
The award-winning Rhine Ballet also returns to the Opera House Düsseldorf on Saturday 25th September with b.o5
Martin Schläpfer, the ballet's director, has won the title of Best Choreographer from the Magazine "tanz" an accolade truly deserved as he altered the standing of the RhineBallet enormously.
A group from RhineBuzz saw this in July, before the break. It was a lovely evening.
Highly recommendable - a few of the comments from the RhineBuzz group on facebook for all to see!
Thanks to Rhinebuzz I also had the chance to view the ballet. We had really good places very close to the stage. Without Rhinebuzz I think I hadn't visited such event. Anybody should come and see if he likes this show.
Thx Caroline for organizing a yet again great event!
I really enjoyed the ballet yesterday and don't think I would of discovered it and kept on going if it wasn't for RhineBuzz!! Thx again and keep it up!


The Opera House Open Day last Sunday was wonderful. There were 150 people waiting for the doors to open so that they could be first in line to snap up treasures from the costume sale. I saw many delighted familiar faces buying away and was told by the Opera House that another sale is planned just before carnival in February.
The day included a peek at the magical hands that conjure up the fabulous costumes, a singing workshop and at the end of the day a wonderful concert with new members of the ensemble, the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra and three youngsters that had the chance to conduct the orchestra on stage in the opera house. 


They all did spectacularly.
Especially the orchestra!

altstadtherbst


Victoria Chaplin | © Mario Sabatini
Tickets to win to the Global Player Party on 
October 2nd this week!
Altstadtherbst September 15 - October 3 2010
This thrilling festival of dance, music and film is a true highlight in 
Düsseldorf's cultural calender. Take a look at the programme and choose performances from all over the world and all areas of the performing arts.
The Forty Part Motet | © Atsushi Nakamichi
The eclectically chosen locations vary from the festival marquee 
that will be especially erected on Burgplatz to the 
Opera House and Tonhalle, 
to banks and churches spread around the city and perhaps most intriguing of all, to Con-Sum, a historic, disused bread factory where there will be performances of Janet Cardiff's The Forty Part Motet, a fascinating presentation via 40 loud speakers. Entry to this is free. You are all invited to the 
Opening Night on September 17th at 6.30pm.
Programme highlights include Le Cirque Invisible by Victoria Chaplin and Jean-Baptiste Thierrée, Verdi's opera Nabucco presented in the Johannes Church as a multi-media production, The Masters of Burundi playing in the festival marquee, a production of Mozart's Requiem in the Tonhalle and A Filetta, haunting and powerful Corsican vocals, also performing in the Johannes Church.
Garden of Lust from the 2009 Programme
But really, the entire programme is an absolute feast for the senses. 
Tickets for some performances are sold out, so take a look at the schedule now and don't miss out!
Tickets available during the festival from the box office on Burgplatz, 
online, via the hotline now 0211 617 0617 or from d:ticket, Marktplatz 6.

Deutsche Oper am Rhein - Opening of the Season


Robin Hood © Frank Heller

The Deutsche Oper am Rhein is opening the new season with a wonderful day of events on Sunday 19th September beginning at 11am with a sale of costumes, hats and adornments from the unbelievable bank of treasures that they house way down in the basement of the Opera House beneath the Heinrich-Heine-Allee. I've visited this in the past - it's quite beyond description. Who knows what one might find amongst the incredible treasures on the sale in the foyer!

The day will include a chance to observe a training session of the award-winning Rhine Ballet; a peek backstage; a programme of Mozart beginning at 1.15pm and an introduction to new members of the Opera on the Rhine ensemble. 
At 2.45 and again at 4pm there will also be demonstrations of stage techniques and processes.
Sunday celebrates World Children's Day in Germany and what a day for the little ones at the Opera House.  All children aged 8 - 14 will have the chance to take part in a conductors workshop and in the final concert of the day three children will have the chance to conduct the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra!
There are other numerous workshops  - children sing for children; ballet workshops; Discovering Opera; a Robin Hood taster (I saw this opera last year - it was a HUGE hit with the young audience) ...
There's so much to enjoy.
Certainly a day not to be missed!
The Opera House Düsseldorf
Heinrich-Heine-Allee 16a
40213 Düsseldorf

A Star Is Born at the Museum Folkwang

Mick Jagger 1975
©Didi Zill

Few things touch us as music does.
Just hearing one note of a familiar, personal melody can set off a whole chain of memories, emotions and vivid pictures in our hearts and minds.
And so it also is with the exhibition ‘A Star Is Born’ showing until October 10th in the Museum Folkwang in Essen. The first major exhibition of this kind to be shown in Germany.
The show is extensive, over 300 exhibits in room after room filled with the work of the world’s great photographers - Albert Watson, Annie Leibowitz, Richard Avedon, David LaChapelle, Mick Rock, portraying rock ‘n’ roll stars, huge bands, memorable songs, unforgettable performances and quite obviously most treasured memories.
There are added treats such as a tiny Japanese disc player and album covers side by side with the original photograph that the album cover was designed from.
Music flows in places; discs are on the walls; magazines and autographs are also on show.
There’s also a really atmospheric movie - clips of classic concerts: David Byrne in his huge suit, Patti Smith, Jimi Hendrix, The Stones, David Bowie, Blondie, The Whitestripes and all.
I thought I was going on to admire great photography of well known bands and solo artists and so it was, but it was also much more than this.
Especially moving were the various members of the audience that visited the show that afternoon.
Couples and singles moved through the rooms in a kind of bubble of memories. Smiling at one another, smiling to themselves. Few words were spoken. It seemed everyone had a memory to share with these amazing photographs. Be it of a live performance they had witnessed or tune that was gliding through their minds.
These images triggered emotions in every way and so this is an exhibition of many facets.  Some of the photographs are awe inspiring, some amusing, many intriguing. There are beautiful portraits, adrenaline-filled, live-on-stage shots and intimate backstage and offstage views.

Take a trip to Essen, it's easy to reach by train, and experience this all for yourself. 
The museum is open Tuesdays - Sundays from 10am - 6pm. Late night opening Fridays until 10.30pm.
From Tuesdays to Sundays, and on all public holidays there is a free shuttle, the Folkwang Bus, from the south exit of Essen Hauptbahnhof to the museum every 15 minutes.

A Star Is Born entry €8 
The museum also has an excellent English website that, refreshingly, is easy to find your way around.

A Star Is Born
Museum Folkwang
Museumsplatz 1
45128 Essen

RhineBuzz on facebook


There is a RhineBuzz group on facebook with over 430 members of all ages. New people join all the time - take a look around, there are many more pictures on here of our events, the people we attract, the fun we have!
Please do join, it is a really good way of hearing about our events first hand.
I received an email recently from a young person who has now been to a couple of our events: 


 'I'm really glad I found out about Rhinebuzz. I can see that it is very likely going to completely change my experiences and attitude here in Germany'



Honey from the Roof of museum kunst palast

A Press Photographer and the Beekeeper
I spend my time doing some pretty novel things some days.

At the end of September I was on the roof of the museum kunst palast where the first museum’s honey was premiered!
All spring and summer the bees have been busy collecting their nectar from the nearby Hofgarten and Rhinepark. Local beekeeper, Olaf Linowski, set up a hive on the museum’s roof and now nearly 100kg have been harvested for the first time.
mkp Director Beat Wismer and his team look on against the Düsseldorf Skyline
You can buy the Hofgarten Honig only from 
the museum shop.
250g €6.90
A great and very novel gift from Düsseldorf. 
Or a treat for yourself - I tried it and it was delicious!

American Citizen Services Day




American Citizen Services Day in Düsseldorf
Wednesday 22nd September 2010 10am - 2pm 
U.S. Consulate General Duesseldorf
Willi - Becker - Allee 10
40227 Duesseldorf
Tel.: (0211) 788 - 8927
Fax: (0211) 788 - 8938
The U.S. Consulate General Düsseldorf no longer provides American citizen services. This means you would normally have to take a trip to Frankfurt for any of these essential services. However on September 22nd the office in Düsseldorf will provide these services for the day, so make the most of this opportunity!

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