April 16th
Utopia Will Become the Resident Orchestra of Funkhaus Berlin
In 2023, Utopia will become the resident orchestra of Funkhaus — one of the main music hubs in Berlin. It was built as a broadcasting centre for the Radio DDR, and today attracts a variety of musicians with its technical means and atmosphere. The acoustics in Funkhaus studios and halls is considered one of the best in the world. Funkhaus is where techno parties take place, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Aphex Twin perform, and Sting and Depeche Mode record their music. As part of their residency at Funkhaus, the Utopia Orchestra and Choir will conduct rehearsals, record CDs, and perform symphonic and chamber concerts. The residency programme will feature alternative music concerts and educational projects. Similar projects will take place 2-3 times a year.
Utopia’s first performance at Funkhaus will take place on June 7. The soloists of the orchestra, conducted by Teodor Currentzis, will give a chamber music concert in the legendary recording studio. The programme encompasses five centuries of music from the Baroque to the works of our contemporaries. The works flow seamlessly into one another, with improvisatory elements tying them in one text like chapters of a novel. This ‘novel’ should be read without spoilers, so the list of compositions will not be announced.