Concert
17.9.-20.9.2025
Maschinenhalle Zweckel

A new understanding of nature in Sound.

“Mother Nature” is dead. Human beings have irrevocably changed nature. David Lang, one of the world’s most successful avant-garde composers, has been inspired by classics of environmental literature in his latest work. Tal Rosner creates video projections especially for before and after nature, which show nostalgic Images and at the same time open up new perspectives. With this concert Chorwerk Ruhr celebrates its 25th anniversary with the New York instrumental Ensemble Bang on a Can All-Stars.

A Chorwerk Ruhr production for Ruhrtriennale.

  • Conductor Florian Helgath with Chorwerk Ruhr and the Bang on a Can All-Stars on stage, with two large projections of abstract red and blue patterns in the background.
    before and after nature, Chorwerk Ruhr, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Florian Helgath © Christian Palm, Ruhrtriennale 2025
  • Conductor Florian Helgath conducting on stage, with musicians and instruments blurred in the background.
    before and after nature, Florian Helgath © Christian Palm, Ruhrtriennale 2025
  • Conductor Florian Helgath and David Lang with members of Chorwerk Ruhr and the Bang on a Can All-Stars during the final applause on stage.
    before and after nature, f.l.t.r., v.l.n.r. David Cossin, Arlen Hlusko, Tristan Kasten-Krause, Ken Thomson, Taylor Levine, Vicky Chow, David Lang, Florian Helgath © Christian Palm, Ruhrtriennale 2025
  • Conductor Florian Helgath with Chorwerk Ruhr and Bang on a Can All-Stars on stage, audience in the foreground, with two projections of abstract light blue patterns in the background.
    before and after nature, Chorwerk Ruhr, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Florian Helgath © Christian Palm, Ruhrtriennale 2025
  • Conductor Florian Helgath with Chorwerk Ruhr and the Bang on a Can All-Stars on stage, with projections of abstract light beams in the background.
    before and after nature, Chorwerk Ruhr, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Florian Helgath © Christian Palm, Ruhrtriennale 2025
  • David Cossin of the Bang on a Can All-Stars on drums on stage, with members of Chorwerk Ruhr in the background.
    before and after nature, David Cossin, Chorwerk Ruhr © Christian Palm, Ruhrtriennale 2025
  • Cast

    • Text and Music
      • David Lang
    • Video and Projections
      • Tal Rosner
    • Conductor
      • Florian Helgath
    • Video and Lighting Technician
      • Eli Garmon
    • Ensemble
      • Bang on a Can All-Stars
    • Bang on a Can All-Stars
      • Vicky Chow (Piano),
      • David Cossin (Percussion),
      • Arlen Hlusko (Cello),
      • Tristan Kasten-Krause (Bass),
      • Taylor Levine (Guitar),
      • Ken Thomson (Clarinet & Bass Clarinet),
      • Andrew Cotton (Sound Engineer)

    Chorwerk Ruhr 

    Soprano
    Sophia Desirée Bauer, Natasha Goldberg, Lotte Kosack, Maria Portela Larisch, Christiane Rittner Anja Scherg 

    Alto 
    Katharina Guglhör, Laura Kießkalt, Luisa Kruppa, Andra Isabel Prins, Jennifer Reineke, Hanna Schäfer 

    Tenor 
    Christoph Eder, Florian Feth, Maximilian Fieth, Clemens Liese, Martin Logar, Fabian Strotmann 

    Bass 
    Andrey Akhmetov, Julian Popken, Nicholas Probst, Frederik Schauhoff, Thomas Stenzel, Christian Walte

    With thanks to: 

    Video Technical Director
    Brandon Kraemer 

    Video Programming
    David Shepherd 

    Video Associates
    Dale Croft, Darren Culley 

    Tali Oliver

    Team Ruhrtriennale 

    Artistic Production Manager
    Sophie Stroux, Marcus Fuchs 

    Technicians
    Clemens Sippel 

    Petar Georgiev

    Festakt 25 Jahre Chorwerk Ruhr

    Bevor am Mittwoch, 17. September, der erste Ton von David Langs Werk in der Maschinenhalle Zweckel erklingt, werden Garrelt Duin, Regionaldirektor des Regionalverbandes Ruhr (RVR), und Ivo Van Hove, Intendant der Ruhrtriennale, ihre Grußworte im Rahmen eines Festaktes an den Jubilar, an CHORWERK RUHR und seinen Chefdirigenten Florian Helgath richten und damit dem Publikum einige Höhepunkte aus den vergangenen 25 Jahren des Vokalensembles in Erinnerung rufen.

    The Chorwerk Ruhr ensemble can be seen in the Turbinenhalle Bochum. The singers are dressed in black.
    © Christian Palm

    Artists at Work

    The film series Artists at Work showcases the versatility of Ruhrtriennale artists. Every Tuesday in the Turbinenhalle we present a cinematic work featuring a festival artist. Programm director Krystian Lada will open the evening with a conversation with David Lang on Tuesday, 16 September.

    Portrait of David Lang in front of a dark background.
    © Peter Serling

    Visit

  • Run time
  • Introduction
  • Programme
  • Shuttle bus
  • Directions

    Maschinenhalle Zweckel, Gladbeck
    Frentroper Straße 74
    45966 Gladbeck

  • Public transport and Kombi-Ticket
  • Directions
  • Dates and Tickets
    September

    Festival Stories

  • Imagine Change

    In conversation with David Lang

  • Listening to music in a new way

    Concert programme combining high culture, pop and industrial halls

  • Spectacular venues

  • Four things that make Maschinenhalle Zweckel unique