Ecumenical concert on Reformation Day

The Friends of St. Gertrude's Chapel invite you to a festive concert on October 31, 2024 at 3.00 pm.

The AESTUS Trio has prepared an ecumenical program for the Reformation Day concert: it will begin with a work by Johann Sebastian Bach, who is regarded by many people around the world as the epitome of the Protestant composer. The Sonata in A major for solo (obbligato) harpsichord, violin and violoncello was composed shortly before he moved from Köthen to Leipzig. The Catholic side of the Counter-Baroque is represented by two important composers from the end of the 17th century. Firstly, sonatas I and II from Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber's "Rosary Sonatas" (Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel, Mary's visit to her cousin Elisabeth) and the concluding passacaglia for solo violin (Guardian Angel Sonata) will be performed. Biber's 15 rosary sonatas are the only evidence of a compositional reference to the rosary prayers, which gained great importance in the period after the Thirty Years' War. Biber probably created his work for 15 rosary devotions of his Salzburg archbishop in the month of October. The program concludes with a recently identified youthful work by Antonio Vivaldi, the joyful sonata for violin and violoncello solo with basso continuo.

The musicians are Olga Bille (continuo), Annerose Kolkwitz (violin) and Hartmut Möller (cello). A love of chamber music has brought these three artists together to form the AESTUS Trio. Olga Bille works as a successful pianist, accompanist and teacher in Greifswald. Annerose Kolkwitz has discovered and encouraged numerous talents in her many years of teaching. Prof. Dr. Hartmut Möller, musicologist and former rector of the Rostock University of Music and Theatre, will lead through the program.

The chapel, with its restored interior and interesting roof truss, will be open to visitors from 11.00 a.m. on this day and will be showing works of art by Ludger Hinse on the theme of "Waves of Light - Colors of Romanticism" for the last time.

Food and drink will be provided by "Gertrudenbrötchen".