Music weeks: Uckermark inspires with baroque sounds and opportunities!

Music weeks: Uckermark inspires with baroque sounds and opportunities!

There was a musical explosion on the second weekend of the Uckermärkische Musikwochen! Six concerts brought various locations in the region to life, and the Polish ensemble InTune particularly stood out with its program “Dance in the Baroque” at the Kunsthof Barna von Sartory in Grimme. The founding members Aleksandra Radwańska, who shone with her baroque violin, and Urszula Jasiecka-Bury on the harpsichord, conjured up an unforgettable sound experience. Among the guest musicians were Piotr Wacławik on the viol and Jakub Radwański, who reinforced the dance-like character of the pieces with improvised rhythms on the daf and tambourines. The audience was amazed by the energy and passion of the musicians, who mainly performed works by composers of the French High Baroque, including Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre.

For the critics, the sound of Aleksandra Radwańska's violin was a real delight. Anyone who had the opportunity to experience this special evening was captivated by the artistry and the interaction between the artists. There was also something new to discover in this regard: Tobias Euler presented his sound installation “Tokamak”, which he developed during a four-week stay at the Kunsthof. This mechatronic system, which works with artificial intelligence and real instruments, creates mysterious sounds and archaic rhythms that can be modified live.

Cultural diversity and tradition

Another highlight of the weekend was the performance of Mariia Viksnìna, the only torban virtuoso who played in the Greiffenberg castle ruins. She enchanted the audience with baroque compositions and traditional Ukrainian songs. Their dance performances provided breathless moments and impressively showed how culture can connect people.

But it wasn't just the classical sounds that made the audience rejoice. The ImPuls ensemble of the suite set new standards with its program “Flos Vanus – Adabana”. The artists Isabella Leonarda, an Italian composer, and Izumi no Okuni, a Japanese dancer, were particularly celebrated. Julia Kursawe on baroque cello, Anna Fusek on baroque violin and flutes and Yui Kawaguchi, who impressed with her dance performance, mixed historical music with modern expressive dance and created an atmosphere that was second to none.

Amid these cultural celebrations, there is also a wave of national enthusiasm for the sport. The Oklahoma City Thunder recently celebrated winning the NBA Championship by defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the Finals. This event marks the first title in the franchise's 17-year history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named MVP of both the regular season and the Finals, led his team to victory with 29 points and 12 assists. Notably, the Thunder posted one of the best records in NBA history during the 2024-25 season, winning a total of 68 games, giving them the third-best win total in league history since 1996-97.

The relief and joy over the title is particularly great since Oklahoma City had only sparse victories in previous seasons. With a team that has grown significantly over the past two years, the Thunder showed a clear upward trend, while in the decisive game Chet Holmgren recorded the most blocks in a game since block statistics began in 1973-74.

Whether music or sport, Cologne showed this weekend that passion and creativity can thrive anywhere. No matter whether in the Kunsthof Barna or in the basketball arena – the audience was intoxicated by energy and talent. A weekend to remember! For more information about the concert highlights, visit Nordkurier or watch the exciting story about the Thunder ESPN.