By Ralf Dörnen and Gidon Kremer

Gidon Kremer (violin)
Kremerata Baltica
Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla (conductor)
Ralf Dörnen (choreography and staging)
Ballet Vorpommern
Hans Winkler (stage)
Ralf Christmann (costumes)

The following works are setting the tone for two ballets:

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
"Serenade after Plato's Symposium" (for violin, string orchestra, harp and percussion)

The piece is indicated as the versatile American composer's "his most convincing" work. Elegant, sometimes jazzy serenade consists of five movements that are overwritten with the names of speakers from Plato's famous Dialog and their discussion that is intended to reflect the true nature of love.

Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
"Carmen Suite" (arranged for string orchestra and percussion by Rodion Shchedrin)

"Carmen Suite" is written by Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin, who has re-arranged the well-known music from G. Bizet's opera "Carmen" in a contemporary version - for orchestra and percussion.

In addition to Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica, five percussionists appear on the stage to demonstrate the diversity of percussion with instruments from xylophone and marimba to the bass drum and a bell. This modern instrumentation offers the public a completely new listening perspective on the tunes probably anyone knows. This evening is not just for hearing, but also for the viewing experience, which dancers of Vorpommern Ballet will guarantee.