Variaton

In project #21, Variaton Projektorchester dedicates itself to the work Ein Heldenleben. This symphonic poem by Richard Strauss musically represents heroism in six programmatic sections. Variaton takes the audience on a hero’s journey illustrated by the artist Dominic Beyeler. He creates drawings, sketches and atmospheric images live in the concert hall, bringing the hero out of the music and into the images.

The evening opens with the first purely orchestral work by Aleksandr Scriabin, the Rêverie op. 24, whose tonal language is characterised by chromaticism and thus cannot conceal the strong influences of Impressionism.

On the surface, Ein Heldenleben tells the story of a man who adores his wife – an enchanting and unpredictable diva. He goes to war against his opponents in order to celebrate himself and his works of peace after winning the battle. Above the first sketches of the composition, Strauss wrote the two words “hero and world” and so Dominic Beyeler (painter / illustrator), Droujelub Yanakiew (artistic director) and Variaton project orchestra create a world of images to accompany Ein Heldenleben. The extremely versatile artist Dominic Beyeler loves to depict emotions with just a few shades or lines, showing the audience various aspects of heroism.