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FRANKFURT

What’s on in Germany: July 26 – Aug 1

This week’s highlights: Wagner’s legacy lives on at the Bayreuther Festspiele, a trip to the Middle Ages in Bielefeld, and Bon Iver makes a stop in Stuttgart.

Published: 26 July 2012 07:43 CEST
What's on in Germany: July 26 - Aug 1
Photo: DPA

BAYREUTH

Festival

Bayreuther Festspiele

The 2012 installment of the legendary Bayreuther Festspiele are underway led by composer Richard Wagner’s great granddaughters Eva-Wagner Pasquier and Katharina Wagner. Since 1876, this high-brow occasion has drawn classical music lovers from all corners of the globe. Also known as the Richard-Wagner-Festspiele, the music and theatre festival takes place annually at the Bayreuther Festspielhaus, a theatre co-built by Richard Wagner himself away from the metropolises of the day to avoid the compromises and pressures of repertory theatre service.

Price: (Call 0921 78 78 0 for details)

Location: Festspielhaus, Festspielhügel 1-2 – 95445 Bayreuth – Germany

Times: July 26 – August 28, shows starting at 4 or 6pm

More Information: Bayreuther Festspiele Website

BERLIN

Festival

Young Euro Classic

Orchestras from all over the world descend upon Berlin this week to participate in the Young Euro Classic – a forum for showcasing the skills, passion and diversity of the world’s most talented young musicians. Prominent conductors lead the youth in their interpretations of symphonic masterpieces as well as less-known works. As one of the most important such festivals in the world, Young Euro Classic gives young performers a taste of world-stage euphoria, meanwhile astounding audiences with its fresh talent.

Price: €16

Location: Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt, Gendarmenmarkt 2, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Times: July 27 to August 12 (times vary, see programme for details)

More Information: Young Euro Classic Website

Concerts

Nights of Ramadan

It’s the 5th time this artistic celebration of one of Islam’s holiest observations takes place in Berlin. With its concerts, films, discussions and performances at various locations throughout the city, Nights of Ramadan provides audiences with a special look at the wide range of Islam-influenced cultures celebrating the month with a fast. This year’s highlights includes the Ramadan Dialogues featuring artists from various backgrounds sharing both their musical tradition and artistic styles with one another.

Price: €3 – €20, kids under 12 free

Location: Museumsinsel – Museum für islamische Kunst / Werkstatt der Kulturen / Berliner Rathaus / Ramadanfest auf der Karl-Marx-Straße / Mauerpark, Berlin

Times: July 26 to August 19 (times vary, see programme for details)

More Information: Nights of Ramadan Programme PDF

BIELEFELD

Festival

Sparrenburgfest

Take a trip back in time with one of Bielefeld’s most entertaining family festivals. Against the backdrop of the Sparrenburg Castle, an exciting cast of magicians, storytellers, traders and vagrants reanimate the Middle Ages for visitors, flanked by preachers, minstrels, hawkers, peddlers, craftsmen and any other characters one could fathom from the age of Black Death and resilient hearts. Wares, food, music and activities ensure something for everyone at this annual July gathering.

Price: (Call 0521 516102 for details)

Location: Sparrenburg Castle Am Sparrenberg 38, 33602 Bielefeld

Time: July 27 – 29, daily

More Information: Sparrburgfest Website

COLOGNE

Exhibition

The Metamorphasis of Japan After the War

The end of the second world war marked a turning point for Japan: reeling from the atomic bomb drops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, under complete surrender and occupied by the Allies, the country began to rebuild from the ground up – and with fate-altering consequences. From societal structures to the primary economic model, dramatic changes in the face of the country took place at an unprecedented pace. This look at the miraculous transformation by the Japanese Cultural Institute in Cologne examines how it all happened.

Price: (unknown)

Location: Japanisches Kulturinstitut (The Japan Foundation), Universitätsstraße 98, 50674 Cologne

Time: July 26 – September 29

More Information: Japan Foundation Website Website

HAMBURG

Dance Performance

Ballet Revolución

Ballet Revolución is coming to Hamburg in the latest exciting installment of pop-ballet interpretations of musicians such as Shakira, Beyonce, Enrique Igelsias and Ricky Martin. It’s easy to catch the fever of this near-acrobatic dance group complete with turns, kicks and flips to some of the world’s most danceable music. A chance to turn off and marvel at the physical prowess of an extremely talented group of dancers, this Cuban fusion of ballet, hiphop and contemporary dance is guaranteed to infuse audiences with an endorphin high.

Price: €40.50 – €75

Location: Thalia Theater, Alstertor 1 20095 Hamburg

Time: July 26 – August 5, various times (see Thalia Theater website

Thalia Theater website for details)

More Information: Ballet Revolución Website

MUNICH

Music

Alles Gut! Festival

With 111 events accessible to visitors at no cost, Munich’s Alles Gut! festival is the perfect opportunity for exposure to great live music and other incredible performance art. Genres from rock to jazz, theatre, dance and an extended kids’ programme fill the city’s Gasteig with endless opportunities to be entertained – and to support some great organizations. From the Bavarian police orchestra to Ania Jools and philharmonic performers, you won’t want to miss this cultural cornucopia that runs for one day only.

Price: Free

Location: Various locations (see programme for details)

Time: July 29, 10am-11:30pm

More Information: Alles Gut! Website

NEUENAHR

Festival

16th Neuenahrer Burgunderfest

Neuenahr’s hike through the surrounding wine hills just south of Cologne takes guests on a tasting tour of the wine producers Sonnenberg, Burggarten und Lingen. Following the tours, a festival complete with live music takes place in a nearby meadow. Stands with cold snacks such as bread, cold cuts and cheese along the way provide the perfect complementary sustenance for a warm summer afternoon and a sampling of the region’s special 2010 vintage Burgunder.

Price: €10

Location: Trains leave from Bahnhof Bad Neuenahr at 12:23pm, 13:23pm, 2:23pm and 15:23pm

Times: July 28, 1-5pm

More Information: Burgunderfest Website

STUTTGART

Concert

Bon Iver

When Justin Vernon retreated with mononucleosis into a Wisconsin cabin one winter, he emerged with what became his critically-acclaimed debut album. Under the name Bon Iver, Vernon began touring with songs from For Emma, Forever Ago, passing out sheet music and encouraging audiences to fill in the harmonies missing from his live performances. In the meantime, grammy-nominated Bon Iver tours as a band of four musicians, with the occassional support of Colin Stetson, Sufjan Stevens and others.

Price: €42.50 – €113.60

Location: Freilichtbuhne Killesberg, Am Kochenhof 16, Stuttgart

Times: July 31, 7:30pm

More Information: Eventful Website

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BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 27 November 2021 16:16 CET
Updated: 29 November 2021 14:17 CET
A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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