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Readings
next performances
17. 02. 2024 (Sat.): | from Dieter Rogge: Kindertage - a musical reading Götz and Elisabeth Mackensen, Hamfhofsweg 125b, D-28357 Bremen-Borgfeld beginning 07:00 p.m., reservations: cnb07099@nord-com.net or 0421/ 273433
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12. 04. 2024 (Fri.): | from Jean-Pierre Abraham: Armen - a musical reading in German language Arbeitnehmerkammer Bremen, Bürgerstr. 1/ Kultursaal, D-28195 Bremen beginning 07:00 p.m., reservations: kultur@arbeitnehmerkammer.de or 0421/ 36301 -987
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19. 04. 2024 (Fri.): | Guy de Maupassant: What the Devil - a musical reading in German language Atelier Brandt-Credo, Meyerstr. 145, D-28201 Bremen-Neustadt beginning 07:00 p.m., reservations: mail@atelier-brandt-credo.de or 0421/ 558455
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09. 06. 2024 (Sun.): | Amore, Amore - a garden reading with music ULF barn, Am Deelen, D-28865 Lilienthal-Seebergen beginning 04:00 p.m., reservations: john.julia@gmx.de or 0421/ 433108
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08. 09. 2024 (Sun.): | Petri Tamminen: Battleships in Finnish - a musical reading on a Bremen peat boat Meeting point at the Kuhgraben jetty near Haus am Walde, Kuhgrabenweg 2, D-28359 Bremen beginning 11:00 a.m. and 06:00 p.m., reservations: kultur@arbeitnehmerkammer.de or 0421/ 36301 -987
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11. 09. 2024 (Wed.): | Heide Marie Voigt: Das Schweigen des Herrn Haßler - a reading with the author KITO, Alte Hafenstr. 30, D-28757 Bremen-Vegesack beginning 08:00 p.m., no reservations - all welcome
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20. 09. 2024 (Fri.): | Come to my Humble Cabin - a musical reading in German language Atelier Brandt-Credo, Meyerstr. 145, D-28201 Bremen-Neustadt beginning 07:00 p.m., reservations: mail@atelier-brandt-credo.de or 04212/ 558455
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21. 09. 2024 (Sat.): | Koyaanisqatsi - the cult film, accompanied by specially arranged live music MIB, Buntentorsteinweg 112, D-28201 Bremen-Neustadt beginning 06:00 p.m., reservations: veranstaltungen@martin-heckmann.de Postponed until next year!
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24. 09. 2024 (Tue.): | Kattenturm Summer Stories - in German language Bürgerhaus Obervieland, Alfred-Faust Str. 4, D-28279 Bremen-Kattenturm beginning 07:00 p.m., reservations requested: info@bgo-bremen.de or 0421/ 696730 -20
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20. 02. 2025 (Thu.): | Come to my Humble Cabin - a musical reading in German language Home Concert Aßmannshauser Str. 54, D-28199 Bremen-Neustadt beginning 07:00 p.m., reservations: veranstaltungen@martin-heckmann.de or 0421/ 43777515
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Petri Tamminen: Battleships in Finnish - a musical reading on a Bremen peat boat
Captain Vilhelm Huurna can never quite shake the feeling that while the others are all real captains, he isn't. He's got everything you need for a successful career as a captain apart from sailor's luck, so he inadvertentlys wrecks ship after ship on his commercial voyages. Nevertheless his unwavering fatalistic optimism lets him sail through life with his head held high. A performance fittingly accompanied by Matthias Entrup on the vibes and Klaus Fischer on his bass clarinet.
Overall duration max. 2,5 hrs. incl. interval
Heide Marie Voigt: Das Schweigen des Herrn Haßler - a reading with the author
Where were they deployed and what did they do there? How did it make them feel? What did they believe in? Heide Marie Voigt spoke to German World War veterans during the 90s. We have now compiled a long monologue from their responses that is both bleak and at times preposterous. During the course of the piece, what at first seems to be a matter-of-fact account twists and turns to evade both questions and conscience. It becomes painfully clear that war devoures them all - not just the victims but those responsible too. The only victor is pain, and it is passed onto the next generation like a concealed hand of cards. Powerfully and sensitively accompanied on the synthesizer by Lennart Hinz.
Duration approx. 75 mins.
video trailer
Come to my Humble Cabin - a musical reading in German language
Come to my humble cabin, the rocking chair is waiting and the basil flowers won't bloom without you. Without you, no sun, without sun, no light. Without light, no faith and without faith, no God. Stories about finding and loosing one another, about longing and desire, fulfilment and joy. The vocal quartett from the Bremen a cappella ensemble 'Vox Animae' provides the perfect musical accompaniment with Renaissance, Romantic and Modern sounds.
Duration approx. 75 Mins.
Koyaanisqatsi - the cult film, accompanied by specially arranged live music
The groundbreaking cult film 'Koyaanisqatsi', with original soundtrack by Philip Glass, was released in 1982. Its title stems from a Hopi expression suggesting 'life out of balance'. The film features neither dialogue nor actors - merely a montage of natural landscapes set against scenes from modern civilisation. The striking visuals and use of time-lapse and slow motion create a unique and intoxicating experience. Julia Vera Rodatz accompanies the film live on piano and synthesiser, with sounds from Hania Rani, Philip Glass, Nils Frahm - and the voice of Martin Heckmann. Supported by Arbeitnehmerkammer Bremen.
Duration approx. 85 Mins.
Kattenturm Summer Stories - in German language
It's that time again! The Kattenturm authors haven't spent the long summer lazing around doing nothing. Far from it. Now they want to share with you their experiences and tales from this simmering Bremen district. Like all about that memorable last day in the nick for 'bathtub murderer' Manfred Genditzki - who had after all received a life sentence ... And what were old Elfriede Mümmelmann's top tips for a professional bank robbery? And why, for heaven's sake, did the electronics store salesman end up giving away the entire high-end TV-system for just two fifty? These tales and many more are presented by Martin Heckmann and the one and only Jürgen Schöffel on the guitar.
Duration approx. 90 mins. including a short interval
Amore, Amore - a garden reading with music
Six short love stories from the land where lemons grow. Each just a few minutes long, but each with a seductive power all of its own. An entertaining night that will get under your skin and confuse, unsettle and enchant you. Barbara Andrae provides the virtuoso musical accompaniment to the evening with the - how should we describe it? - capitivatingly beautiful sound of her akkordion.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Guy de Maupassant: What the Devil - a musical reading in German language
Well, it would be nice if he could sit by her bedside for a while at least as the old dear breathes her last. But work is calling, that's how it goes. Hmmm, let's see what the neighbour would want for keeping vigil! On the other hand though she might keep it up for another few days - she's always been stubborn. So, perhaps agree on a lump sum? A tale - you might call it that - about the lightness of being, with a beautifully fitting, tender accompaniment by 'Trio Scambio' from Oldenburg.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
from Jean-Pierre Abraham: Armen - a musical reading in German language
The locals call it 'Phare d'Ar-Men`- the lighthouse way out in the open sea off the coast of Brittany. The rock it perches on is not much wider than the foundation itself and only visible at all at low tide. It was out here back in the '50s that the author signed up as a keeper. Using precise yet lyrical imagery, he describes everyday life under extreme conditions.Lighting and extinguishing the flare, maintaining the machinery, the minute but essential tasks that defend the tower against the fury of the sea. Man's battle with the elements and with himself. The reading is sensitively accompanied by Julia Vera Rodatz on the synthesiser and piano.
Duration approx. 75 Mins.
from Dieter Rogge: Kindertage - a musical reading
A tender look back at the grey years after the last war. This is neither a belated description of the city ruins of the author's childhood, nor a well-intentioned political statement of sorts, nor even a reckoning with the evil father, but a collage of fragments of memory put together as if at random, told discreetly, almost gently: things were the way they seemed. The stories and poems develop a peculiar and unsettling strength and let us enter a world where many of us still feel rooted, despite how far it seems from today. Sensitively accompanied on the accordion by Barbara Andrae
Duration approx. 60 Mins.
Even more stories from Kattenturm - in German language
It's back again! The latest instalment of what has meanwhile become part of the standard repertoire at BGO, lived and immortalised by well-seasoned authors but also by Kattenturm writers newn to the scene. Weird lyrics, ludicrous myths, absurd anecdotes - it's all there: over a cup of tea with her gal pals, Frieda W. premeditates the poisoning of her unsuspecting husband; Johann S. abruptly leaves his quaint home to make a hair-raising escape across the motorway at night, while Torsten M. is up for his very own personal apocalypse after merely asking for a TV at the media discounter; all these and many more unbelievable stories, accompanied as ever by the inimitable Jürgen Schöffel on the guitar.
Duration approx. 90 mins.
Stories from Magic Realism - a musical reading in German language
There it stood, towering into the sky: endless, fleeting facades, thousands of storeys high, its immensity beyond human comprehension. As the realisation begann to dawn that every book ever written or even just imagined could be found here in these vast halls - every single one of them, in every language - boundless euphoria began to spread, for it seemed as if now, at last, the answer to every question, failing and problem that had ever plagued humanity would now finally find an answer ... A bewildering yet illuminating, fascinating and very current reading, sensitively accompanied by Lennart Hinz on the piano.
Duration approx. 90 mins.
Hans Christian Andersen: The Nightingale - a musical reading in German language
Undoubtedly a fairy tale for adults. The emperor of China loves the song of the nightingale that always sings outside his window. So far, so harmless. Then, the emperor of Japan gives him a mechanical nightingale that can not only sing as well, but also looks far more beautiful. What happens next leads straight down into the surprising depths of the human soul. Flautist Iris Hammacher acccompanies the story on various instruments to give the text a wonderful atmospheric density.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Bret Harte: How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar - a musical reading in German language
A Christmas story from the Wild West. Simpson’s Bar lies way up in the hills beyond Sacramento. Nobody has ever found any gold here yet, although the earth has been ransacked in search of it. Life is harsh and the people taciturn. In winter, it usually never stops raining, with the village sinking down into the mud and the men incessantly falling into drunken stupors. And little Johnny has never heard the word ‘Christmas.’ “How Santa Claus Came to Simpson’s Bar” is a touching story by Bret Harte with a miraculous twist bringing joy to all - sensitively accompanied on the guitar by Jürgen Schöffel.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Christmas Time in Kattenturm - in German language
The Kattenturm Stories have meanwhile become part of the fabric of Bürgerhaus Obervieland and have gained a loyal fan base: local authors have their stories read to a home audience by Martin Heckmann. The amusing anecdotes, spine-chilling horror stories, rousing lyrics and absurd short stories never fail to surprise. With Christmas just around the corner it's time for three great new seasonal tales from the district plus a special treat in the form of a moving Christmas story from the Wild West featuring tough guys, bad weather and little Johnny who's never ever heard of Christmas. All accompanied by guitarist Jürgen Schöffel.
Duration approx. 90 mins. plus a short interval
Jan Schröter: Nur mal kurz - a musical reading
An entertaining but rather wicked experience. Seven short crime thrillers by Jan Schröter, so short in fact, that they only just start to gather momentum when the final climax draws near and then lingers uncomfortably in the mind. Just what does lie beneath that long-term girlfriend’s sitting room floor, how does the warehouseman caught in the act takes revenge on his boss using a tube of superglue, and what about that last bungee jump ...? but no, it's never what you might expect. The ambitious musical programme is in the very capable hands of Dieter Weische (flute) and Johannes Sauer (piano) playing atmospherically intense works by Nino Rota, Chick Corea and Astor Piazolla.
Duration approx. 90 mins.
Out Now: Brand New Stories from Kattenturm - in German language
What a surprise: this time seven authors from Kattenturm dare to have their texts read in front of an audience by Martin Heckmann, accompanied by Jürgen Schöffel on guitar. On this evening, all secrets will be revealed: Just what was the truth behind old Mrs. Wetterstein's bloodcurdling tales? Why couldn't the local furniture store manage for once to deliver the right door for the Rippe's new wardrobe? How on earth did grandpa come up with the story of Spinderella? And last but not least, why was that one quick kiss the most beautiful of them all ...? Funny, moving, atmospheric, melancholic - it's all there.
Duration approx. 90 Minutes incl. a short interval
Stories from the Bremen Twilight Zone - in German language
Ad at long last they're coming to Bremen Neustadt: more shocking stories from the Bremen Twilight Zone, witnessed and written down by ...? Well, Andreas Gröhl, of course, who is back to tackle life's pressing issues with his sharp pen: just what was the final straw for old Friedrich Bullauge after he had carried Laurentia's piss-soaked nappies down 96 stairs to the bin? And how did crime scene cleaner Heiko Schotte end up having to clean up a UFO when he was off his face one night? And anyway: just why exactly did the pheasant collide full speed with the lamppost? So many questions, so many answers - all accompanied with great feeling by Jürgen Schöffel on his guitar.
Duration approx. 60 Mins.
from Horst Evers: Für Eile fehlt mir die Zeit - a musical reading
Ever found yourself sitting on a hopelessly overcrowded train opposite a married couple doing their best to drag you into their noisy argument? And wasn't that recent parents' evening just another painful reminder that your child's socialisation is actually no longer yours to control? Or does programming your new all-singing, all-dancing coffee machine take so much loving care and attention that you wish you'd just stuck with your old moka pot? Then Horst Evers' stories (and of course the atmospheric musical accompaniment by Matthias Entrup) will soothe your downtrodden soul ...
Duration approx. 75 mins.
Jack London: Nam-Bok, the Liar - a living room reading with music in German language
After many years, a man makes an un expected return to his Inuit village in the far North, at the mouth of the Yukon. There, he tells of his monstrous journey to a people in the South, who build giant canoes from iron and houses that touch the sky. Is he telling the truth? Or is he an imposter? Either way, his stories make the village uneasy and the council of elders has a difficult decision to make ...
Duration approx. 45 mins.
Farhan Hebbo: Wieder eine Nacht mit Ali Many - a musical reading
Farhan Hebbo is back for another appearance at Bürgerhaus Obervieland. With delightful clarity and always with a friendly outlook, Hebbo describes the drama experienced by many refugees - the intolerable pain of saying "goodbye" mixed with high hopes for their arrival. Hebbo has already appeared as a guest at the Bremer Shakespeare Company, the Institut Francais and Villa Ichon, while his newspaper columns have become a Bremen institution. Together with the author, Martin Heckmann presents a new selection of his texts, with musical accompaniment by Claas Harders on the viola da gamba.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Stephen Crane: The Open Boat - a musical reading in German language
The cook, the oiler, the correspondent and the captain - four castaways in a dinghy, already tossed about all day on the vertical, silent grey waves of the open sea. The only sound the violent hissing of the white crests. And is that the distant roar of the surf on the rocks? Daylight is fading fast. It's cold and exhaustion is setting in. Stephen Crane's story, inspired by his own experience, is simple, powerful and much more than a factual dramatic report. It goes without saying that the accordion accompaniment comes from Florian Oberlechner.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Rudyard Kipling: The Gardener - a musical reading in German language
Victorian morality prevails and the entire Empire is staggering under the strain of the Great War. Back in England, Helen Turrel, a respectable, unmarried lady, suddenly loses her raison d'être and is not able to admit it to herself. A haunting, tender and subtly violent story about repression, grief and redemption, sensitively accompanied on keyboards by Lennart Hinz.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
from Christiane Palm-Hoffmeister: Schnittstellen des Glücks - a musical reading
Martin Heckmann meets Bremen author Christiane Palm-Hoffmeister and together they read poetry and prose from what is now her third book. Christiane Palm-Hoffmeister puts life under the magnifying glass, conjuring up images: some staying close to the mundanities of everyday life, others reaching dizzying heights, but always remaining sympathetic to the listener's experience. Through their subtle openness, Christiane Palm-Hoffmeister's texts take the audience on a journey inside the precious labyrinth of the human heart and soul. Accompanied by Daniel Tolsdorf on the double bass.
Duration approx 90 Mins.
Sonnenuntergang Ost
To put into perspective what has in recent years become a dictum in public debate in Germany: it is the atrocities inflicted on German civilians in 1944 and 1945 by the advancing Red Army that were 'bird shit' - compared with the earlier German crusade of destruction in the former Soviet Union. 22 June 2021 marks the 80th anniversary of 'Operation Barbarossa' - the almost romantic code name given to the campaign at the time. In this dramatic reading, Martin Heckmann and Kathrin Steinweg approach the topic and try to find words that can reach us but still fittingly describe the events. Vasilisa Gordasevich accompanies the event on the timpani.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Guy de Maupassant: An Odd Feast - a musical reading in German language
Two friends retreat to an old castle by the sea for Christmas. They eat and drink their fill and then really it's time for Midnight Mass. But on the other hand, perhaps that might turn out to be a little dull. So what about paying a visit to the farmer in his old shack next door instead? After all, they say he's just lost his grandfather and the body should still be laid out. That's bound to be more exciting! And while we're at it, we might as well offer him our sincere condolences. Oh, but that's odd, where's the body? Johannes Sauer on the ivories accompanies us delicatly as we solve the mystery.
Duration approx. 50 mins.
Christiane Palm-Hoffmeister: Ende gut. Alles!? - a book reading with the author
Jekyll or Hyde? Poet or executioner? Who is he really, this unknown father? This sender of loving letters that his daughter seeks out long after his death? The author's search uncovers 75 years of German post-war history, as well as the fate of her unmarried mother, in a way she could never have imagined. Together with the author, Martin Heckmann reads from her book and tells love stories and life stories that she, and countless similar German families in the 20th century lived, endured - and kept secret.
Duration approx. 60 Mins.
Flintenweiber und Untermenschen
A staged reading by Martin Heckmann and Kathrin Steinweg about how Nazi racial doctrine tainted everyday life in Germany during the war, and the very real significance, especially for Eastern European and Soviet prisoners of war, of belonging to a purportedly 'inferior race'. Letters from former prisoners, and documents from the time, recall a chapter of German history that truly seems hard to believe. Contrary to the media-grabbing claim of a well-known German politician, far from being just an insignificant footnote, it is a painful reality that stares back from the mirror at us in Germany whenever we dare take a closer look.
Duration approx. 90 mins.
video trailer
Wolf Craving - a living room reading with music in German language
A dark forest in the middle of nowhere. Hardly anyone dares to walk the few, shadowy paths that lead into its depths, and old age comes fast to the few who must eke out an existance from its barren soil. At night, especially in winter, you can almost imagine feeling these glinting, hungry eyes following you from out of the dense undergrowth. But things aren't always as they seem ... A tongue-in-cheek story about courage and eros that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, once it has given you the creeps. Accompanied by Johannes Sauer on the piano.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
New Stories from Kattenturm - in German language
Norbert ... You know Norbert, right? The one who always sets his alarm clock on his desk for 10:17, so he doesn't miss the radio weather after going to the toilet? Who likes to spend his time off on a Sunday riding the bus? Who breaks out in a cold sweat because Cindy with the blue hair wants to go to the office party with him? But no matter how tough life gets - Norbert is the man to handle it! Imagined and captured by Andreas Gröhl, from the quaint Bremen district of Kattenturm. Bremen guitarist Jürgen Schöffel provides the fitting musical setting.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Farhan Hebbo: Die Rose - a musical reading
Farhan Hebbo is of Syrian descent and now lives in Bremen. Through his unconventional, always slightly melancholic lens, he sheds a gentle light on everyday life of this city, with surprising perspectives, twists and turns. Hebbo has already been a guest to the Bremen Shakespeare Company, the Institut Francais and Villa Ichon, and his newspaper columns have become a Bremen institution. A small but well-chosen selection of his texts can now be heard at Bürgerhaus Obervieland - in the presence of the author himself, and accompanied by the sounds of the saz, played by Marwan Jaro.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
MiniLit live - musical readings in German language
A selection of five small but perfectly formed stories by Bremen authors, with texts by Laura E. Beck, Colin Böttger, Jörn Grebe, Rollo Heinsch and Madita Krügler. Bremer Literaturkontor e.V. has assisted in the creation of the texts and made them accessible to a wider audience in the publication series 'MiniLit'. The complete series will be availbale to take away, free of charge, on the evening. Florian Oberlechner - the accordion player known throughout Bremen - will provide the evening's musical accompaniment with spontaneous improvisations.
Duration approx. 90 mins.
More Stories from Kattenturm - in German language
Why you should never look up when you go jogging. What goes through the mind of the swimming pool attendant as he starts his early shift after a heavy night. Why old Heinz secretly drank all the water from the vase. These and similar stories from the delightful Bremen district of Kattenturm, as experienced and recorded by the Obervieland literature group, 'Die Ohrenleser'. To give the evening's stories a fitting musical setting, we have the pleasure of welcoming Bremen guitarist Jürgen Schöffel.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
1001 Nights for Kobane - a musical reading in German language
A fundraiser with a difference, in cooperation with Patra-Janina Schultz, Robert Levin and the Bremer Shakespeare Company, in aid of rebuilding of a school in war-torn Kobane, Northern Syria. No sign of Ali Baba or Aladdin, but a firework display of good old roguish pranks and spiner-tingling erotic adventures from a multi-cultural Arabia, rediscovered in an ancient Arabian manuscript and translated by Claudia Ott. Definitely not for young ears! Musical accompaniment by Marwan Jaro on the saz and irresistible orient delicacies from the chef from the 'Falstaff'.
Duration approx. 90 mins.
from Daniel Defoe: Roxana - a musical reading in German language
A delightfully risqué tale from high-society London at the beginning of the 18th century. What exactly did happen when Roxana took the path of sin and proceeded to sleep her way, with instinctive, nonchalant cold-bloodedness, to the upper echelons of society? After all, rather an unlikely fate for the demure daughter of French Puritan immigrants. The reading is accompanied by Johannes Sauer on the piano, in fitting Baroque stye, which - so they say anyway - really suits it rather well.
Duration approx. 75 mins.
Venus and the Boys - a living room reading with music in German language
It's September 1940 and an ominous mood prevails shortly after the declaration of war against Germany. To counteract the pervasive feeling of dread, the Parisian art scene clings together in darkened cafés, anxious, yet eager to live life to the full, and in strangely high spirits. An electric, uninhibited longing for closeness, reassurance and touch is spreading, and the night takes its course. A compilation of erotically charged and explicit texts, atmospherically accompanied by Johannes Sauer on piano. Definitely cert. 18.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Farhan Hebbo: Die Flöte des Hirten - a musical reading
Ever heard of Marie Schnackt? Marie Schnackt (literally: Marie chats) is a café where people who have come to live in Bremen from all over the world have the chance to meet, talk German and share cultural experiences, outside of language and integration courses. Marie Schnackt is now celebrating its 2nd birthday. Festivities include readings of work by Syrian poet Farhan Hebbo whose newspaper columns have meanwhile become a Bremen institution. Some of the texts will also be performed in Arabic and Farsi. Marwan Jaro will accompany the event on the saz.
Duration approx. 75 mins.
Robert Louis Stevenson: Thrawn Janet - German language
In the remote Scottish village of Balweary her name is spoken only in whispers: Thrawn Janet. It is all the new minister can do to keep her safe from the other villagers. They have a terrible suspicion about her and always give the dour old woman a wide berth - didn't both her neighbour's cows recently die overnight? And anyway, when did anyone last see her in chuch? Fear is spreading and it turns out that evil sometimes lurks where we least expect it.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Robert Louis Stevenson: The Bottle Imp - German language
They say it was brought to earth by the Devil himself: this peculiar, milky white bottle with the strange, flickering shadow inside ... It is said to have the power to give its owner everything they desire - love, fame, fortune, health. But there's a catch. If the owner dies before selling the bottle, he or she must burn forever in hell. What's more, the bottle must always be sold at a loss. Meanwhile it has become uncomfortably cheap. Keawe, the young man from the West coast of Hawaii, who came by the bottle more by chance, is beginning to run out of options.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Sandman - a musical reading in German language
In his dreams and in real life Nathanael finds himself followed by a gloomy, peculiarly malformed figure known as Coppelius. In Coppelius' presence things become dark, confused and hostile. And Nathanael seems to be the only one capable of sensing this sinister force. Or is he? The spread of darkness appears unstoppable. This is an extremely unsettling tale by the master of horror, accompanied on the piano by Johannes Sauer.
Duration approx. 90 mins.
Charles Dicken: A Christmas Carol - a musical reading in German language
Mr. Scrooge is what we would today call an 'independant investor', whose sole ambition in life is to increase his fortune. He divides his fellow human beings into people he can use and people who stand in his way. His life revolves around exchange rates, contracts and interes rates. Devoid of humour, he sees joy and sorrow as an abnormality of mind. As Christmas approaches, a festival that cynical Mr. Scrooge has always inwardly denied, he is visited by ghosts (or are they angels?) who awaken in him longing, joie de vivre and love. A heart-warming - you could almost say therapeutic story that - as you will hear - really has lost none of its relevance.
Duration approx. 3 hours, with two intervals, plenty of mulled wine and of course heaps of German 'Weihnachtsgebäck'.
Oscar Wilde: The Young King - a musical reading in German language
Outside the palace gates, feverish preparations are being made for the next day’s coronation ceremony, while inside, the prince marvels at himself in front of the mirror, delighting in his coronation regalia. During that night he is haunted by dreams that give the upcoming event an unexpected twist. A fairy tale about power and ego with a surprising outcome - all accompanied by Anneke Brose on the church organ.
Duration approx. 60 mins.
Geschichten aus dem Bärengehege - a musical reading
A totally loopy, exciting, yet oddly wistful mix of adventure, initiation rite, banter and absurdly tall tales from a faraway land that still has enough blank spots on its map for everyone to enjoy. Enough said about this barrage of nonsense of the highest order, seasoned with just a dash of Jurrassic Park, a hint of Edgar Allan Poe, a little pinch of Karl May and a surprising helping of Old Testament. A highly entertaining evening reading with rather beautiful and cohesive musical accompaniment from Barbara Andrae on the bayan - whatever that is. So, all that remains to do is come, listen and learn!
Duration approx. 120 mins.
Audiobooks
Here are some of the titles from the classic audiobook series 'Martin Heckmann reads' ...
Carlos Atanes: Querida ... digital edition / 1 mp3 CD in German language
The doll and the dollmaker. She is his creation, his masterpiece, his pride and joy. Above all, she is his object of desire, created in his vision of the perfect woman. But when a magic spell turns her body into flesh and blood, she escapes her creator and sets off on an adventurous journey of self-empowerment. She experiences what it means to be human, lust, pain, desire, but also a thirst for revenge. An erotic fairy tale narrated by Martin Heckmann and Xochil A. Schütz.
Production: Jan van Rijn and Anja Molendijk
Order here (1 mp3-CD with booklet € 15,00 + delivery / plus: the high quality hardback graphic novel € 80,00 + delivery)
listen to sample
Marvin Roth: Area 51 ... digital edition
They disappear without a trace - from unlit parks, cells on death row and remote places in the desert. They are convicted murderers, smugglers, drug deralers, but also refugees and the homeless. But who is behind the abductions? The victims find themselves in a desolate, underground location. Amid the claustrophobic maze of corridors, passageways and laboratories, they begin to suspect why they have been brought here. A tense science fiction thriller about the legendary 'Area 51'.
Production: Marvin Roth
Order here (digital edition on Amazon)
listen to sample
Hans Christian Andersen: The Nightingale (and more) ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
The emperor of China loves listening to the nightingale that always sings outside his window. Then one day the Japanese emperor presents him with an intricate clockwork nightingale. Not only can she sing almost as well, but she is also much more beautiful. A fairy tale for grown-ups.
Production: Martin Heckmann - from the series 'Martin Heckmann reads'
Order here (digital edition € 8,00 / audio CD with booklet € 10,00 + delivery)
listen to sample
Oscar Wilde: The Young King (and other stories) ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
In the city, preparations for the coronation ceremony are well underway. Meanwhile at the palace, the prince in his coronation regalia marvels at his appearance in the mirror. A fairy tale about power and ego.
Production: Martin Heckmann - from the series 'Martin Heckmann reads'
Order here (digital edition € 8,00 / audio CD with booklet € 10,00 + delivery)
listen to sample
E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Sandman ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
The dark, oddly angular figure of Coppelius haunts Nathaniel in his dreams and in real life. When Coppelius is around, he spreads darkness, confusion and hostility. But only Nathaniel can feel his sinister power. And Nathaniel is getting lonely. It seems like nothing can stop the darkness from spreading. 'The Sandman' is an unsettling tale from the master of sophisticated horror.
Production: Martin Heckmann - from the series 'Martin Heckmann reads'
Order here (digital edition € 8,00 / audio CD with booklet € 10,00 + delivery)
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Johann Peter Hebel: Calender Stories ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
These concise stories are often only a few minutes long and wonderfully light-hearted, covering questions such as: just how come a notorious non-swimmer got a name for swimming the English Channel? Why did the old lady with the walking stick wear her wedding dress for her husband's funeral? And why on earth did the young recruit have to do around-the-clock sentry duty for a whole year? Anyway, life goes on, but the answers will stay with you and gladden your heart.
Production: Martin Heckmann - from the series 'Martin Heckmann reads'
Order here (digital edition € 8,00 / audio CD with booklet € 10,00 + delivery)
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Edgar Allan Poe: The Dwarf's Revenge (and other stories) ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
What for heaven's sake is the point of being king if you can't treat yourself to a little fun once in a while? And why would that pint-sized dwarf of a court jester have a problem with that?
Production: Martin Heckmann - from the series 'Martin Heckmann reads'
Order here (digital edition € 8,00 / audio CD with booklet € 10,00 + delivery)
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Franz Kafka: Stories from Behind the Mirror ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
No, Kafka's stories shouldn't just be dismissed as 'dark'. By engaging with them properly, you'll experience a destressing experiment with your own perception: how much strangeness can we cope with? And when does strangeness start to feel threatening? What will cultivate a more enduring spirit of resistance: your moral standards or your desire for security? What is more important to you: your dream or a message from an emperor? On the couch with Kafka ...
Production: Martin Heckmann - from the series 'Martin Heckmann reads'
Order here (digital edition € 8,00 / audio CD with booklet € 10,00 + delivery
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Robert Louis Stevenson: The Bottle Imp ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
Legend has it the devil brought to earth a strange, milky white bottle with an eerily glowing shadow inside. It is said to be able to give its owner anything: love, fame, money, health. But there's a catch: if its owner dies before selling the bottle, they will burn in hell forever. And the bottle must always be sold for less than its purchase price. The bottle has now lost almost all its value, which puts young Keawe from the west coast of Hawaii in a tricky position.
Production: Martin Heckmann - from the series 'Martin Heckmann reads'
Order here (digital edition € 8,00 / audio CD with booklet € 10,00 + delivery)
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Reise zum Vulkan - taken from Carlos Fuentes: Terra Nostra ... digital edition / 2 audio CDs in German language
Towards the end of the fifteenth century, before Columbus sets sail on his first voyage to America, two Spanish adventurers cross the Atlantic bound for the west. The account of the arduous journey across the ocean, involuntary participation in the culture of an ancient Indian tribe and the labyrinthine pathways of its mythical world and then the start of a fantastic journey right into the heart of the Aztec empire lingers in the mind like a powerful dream.
Produktion: Martin Heckmann
Order here (digital edition € 14,00 / 2 audio-CDs with booklet € 16,00 + delivery)
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Marlene Boklage: Oldenburg - vom ersten Grafen bis zum letzten Herzog ... digital edition / 1 audio CD in German language
Curiosities, anecdotes and stories from the last thousand years of Oldenburg’s history – letters, sermons, travel diaries and recollections. What was on the menu in an Oldenburg inn in the 14th century – and did it actually taste any good? How did clergymen in the 16th century prefer to spend their spare time – and were they actually allowed to do so? And what were the people of Oldenburg doing while the Bastille was being stormed in Paris – and was that actually sensible?
Production: Marlene Boklage
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Vera Reh: Der Feuerrabe - Das verschollene Buch der Druiden ... digital edition / 2 mp3 CDs in German language
When 14-year-old Eric, along with his mum and two brothers, moves house yet again, he has no idea that it is going to change his life forever. Questioning his fate leads him down a path paved with friendship, prejudice, mysteries and magic. "The search for your destiny always becomes a search for your roots", said the old yew tree with her whispering leaves. And Eric awoke ...
Production: Vera Reh
Order here (digital edition € 15,00 / 2 mp3-CDs € 18,50 + delivery)
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Martin-Aike Almstedt: Das Eine, das Andere und das Andersandere ... 2 mp3 CDs in German language
Martin-Aike Almstedt is a composer, philosopher, author, and teacher of Ki-Yoga. In light of the rercent rise of the far right in Germany, this book, now available as an audiobook, summarises his long life. Based on the philosophy of conciousness, it inspires a new, liberated approach to life that overcomes patriarchal structures and paves the way for a contemporary form of matriarchy.
Production: Martin-Aike Almstedt
Order here (2 mp3-CDs incl. booklet € 25,00 + delivery)
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