Riyadh, 5 November 2019
From 8 to 16 November, the German Embassy in Riyadh and the German Consulate General in Jeddah will host German Cultural Days, bringing together a variety of arts exhibitions and musical performances. “With the upcoming German Cultural Days we aim not only to highlight the rich and diverse cultural scene in Germany but to explore the huge potential that lie ahead of us when Saudi and German artists or musicians work hand in hand to create something new and unique,” explained Ambassador Jörg Ranau.
The cultural days will begin in Riyadh on 8 November with the opening of four exhibitions. An architecture exhibition will shed light on the German architects, planners and landscapers who have left their traces in the Kingdom over the past decades. Among others, the masterplan of the Diplomatic Quarters by AS+P, the public gardens in Riyadh by Bödecker and the King Fahad National Library by Gerber are a testimony to the longstanding fruitful cooperation between Saudis and Germans in the cultural field. Another exhibition will showcase scientifically relevant but equally appealing “images of science” from the research of the Max-Planck institutes, Germany’s foremost group of institutes for fundamental scientific research. In addition, two arts expositions will feature a German and a Saudi street artist and the works of Casa Magica, two German light and virtual reality artists. In Riyadh, all of the events will take place in the King Fahad National Library.
On 9 November a Saudi German peoples’ festival will celebrate 30 years fall of the Berlin wall and 90 years treaty of friendship between Germany and Saudi-Arabia (at that time still the Kingdom of Hejaz and Najd). “We believe that people to people ties and more broadly dialogue and exchange between our two societies are just as important as political and economic cooperation: they are the backbone of true friendship,” said Ambassador Jörg Ranau and he went on to commend the positive effect tourism has on people to people ties: “Many Saudi tourists have spent their summer vacation in Germany and gained first hand insights in our way of life. Now the Kingdom has opened its doors to tourists from all over the world including Germany and I am sure that many Germans will come to Saudi Arabia to explore this fascinating country on their own.” Consul General Holger Ziegeler in Jeddah will also celebrate the Fall of the Wall exactly on its 30th anniversary, 9 November, with a surprise happening in the local reception for the Day of German Unity and a performance of 80s and 90s music.
The German Cultural Days will encompass a diverse musical programme with daily performances between 9 and 16 November. The Brass Band “Blechreiz” will bring traditional Bavarian as well as classical and modern pieces to Riyadh and Jeddah. A classical piano trio will play a repertoire of European classical music and the Bigge Jazz Trio will perform together with two Saudi singers. Last but not least, the pop group YEY will bring their own genre, which they describe as organic deep house with Mediterranean and Oriental influences to Riyadh. In Jeddah, DJ Saint Error from Halle will join forces with Saudi heroes of the electronic music scene in Jeddah.
German Cultural Days, 8 to 16 November 2019
The German Cultural Days will highlight the thriving Saudi-German cultural ties and the rich and diverse cultural scene in Germany. In Riyadh, all exhibitions, concerts and film screenings take place at the King Fahad National Library. Most of the events are open to the public every day from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
Exhibition German Architecture in Saudi-Arabia
This exhibition presents remarkable buildings, masterplans and landscaping by German architects, including the Diplomatic Quarter by AS+P, the King Fahad National Library by Gerber or the gardens and parks by Bödecker which characterize todays’ Riyadh.
Location: Atrium in the King Fahad National Library
Date: Opening on 8 November at 7:30 PM
Exhibition: 9 November to 16 November from 5:00 to 10:30 PM
Exhibition Max Planck Images of Science
The Max Planck society, the leading association of institutes for fundamental research in Germany presents scientifically relevant but equally beautiful images of their current research. The exhibition displays 20 images with additional background information which can be accessed through an app.
Location: Atrium in the King Fahad National Library
Date: Opening on 8 November at 7:30 PM
Exhibition: 9 November to 16 November from 5:00 to 10:30 PM
Exhibition Casa Magica
Team Casa Magica, Sabine Weissinger and Friedrich Förster, present an exhibition of visual panels and flake objects connected to an augmented reality experience which can be displayed on the smartphones of the audience using the Artivive App.
Location: Atrium in the King Fahad National Library
Date: Opening on 8 November at 7:30 PM
Exhibition: 9 November to 16 November from 5:00 to 10:30 PM
Exhibition Street Art
Urban art is a global phenomenon, equally present in Berlin as in Riyadh. This exhibition presents works by the German artist CREN / Michel Pietsch and the Saudi artist Talal Al Zeid.
Location: Atrium in the King Fahad National Library
Date: Opening on 8 November at 7:30 PM
Exhibition: 9 November to 16 November from 5:00 to 10:30 PM
Saudi-German Peoples’ Festival
Join us for the celebration of two historical anniversaries: 30 years fall of the Berlin Wall and 90 years treaty of friendship between Saudi-Arabia (at that time the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nadjd) and Germany. The festival’s programme will include a street-art live-performance by the German artist CREN / Michel Pietsch and the Saudi artist Turki Alromaih, an exhibition about the friendship treaty, a public discussion with Ambassador Jörg Ranau, and a concert by the German brass band Blechreiz.
Location: Park of the King Fahad National Library
Date: 9 November
5:00 PM Street art live-performance
6:00 PM Public discussion with Ambassador Jörg Ranau
7:30 PM Concert with the brass band Blechreiz
Concert Brass Band Blechreiz
This brass band from Munich will introducing us a diverse repertoire including Bach, Händel, Wagner, modern pieces of the 20th century as well as traditional Bavarian music.
Location: Park of the King Fahad National Library
Date: 9 November at 7:30 PM
10 November at 8:00 PM
11 November at 8:00 PM
Concert Trio Adorno
This young, award-winning classical trio from Hamburg will play works for piano, violin and cello by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Shostakowitch and Felix Mendelssohn.
Location: Park of the King Fahad National Library
Date: 12 November at 8:00 PM
13 November at 6:00 PM children’s concert
13 November at 8:00 PM
Concert Saudi-German Jazz
The Johannes Bigge Trio (piano, double bass, drums) from Germany performs classical and modern jazz songs together with the Saudi vocalists Nourah and Nawaf. In addition the trio present their own compositions.
Location: Park of the King Fahad National Library
Date: 12 November at 9:30 PM
14 November at 8:00 PM
Concert Pop Group YeY
This German pop band describes their genre as ‚Organic deep house‘. They will give us a taste of electronic dance tracks combined with oriental, Mediterranean music influences. The style is convertible; the music combines traditional and modern elements.
Location: Park of the King Fahad National Library
Date: 14 November 9:30 PM
15 November at 8:00 PM
16 November at 8:00 PM
Film Screenings
Screenings of German films will take place from 10 November to 16 November in the King Fahad National Library at 8:00 PM (by invitation only).
Events in Jeddah
More information and Registration on http://music.gcgjed.org/
12 November Concert Brass Band Blechreiz
13 November Concert Saudi-German Jazz
14 November Concert Trio Adorno
