Gestrandet / Stranded

15.05.2020 – 31.05.2020
With Carlos Gutiérrez

The Bolivian Experimental Ensemble for Indigenous Instruments (OEIN), headed by ABP alumnus Carlos Gutierrez, traveled to Berlin in mid-March. It was to be the highlight of a collaborative artistic venture with the Berlin-based vocal collective PHØNIX16. Many months of work had gone into developing a program to be premiered as the opening concert of the MaerzMusik—Festival for Time Issues. The day after OEIN’s arrival the coronavirus forced the cancellation of MaerzMusik. Shortly thereafter, Bolivia shuttered its borders, making it impossible for the ensemble to return for an indefinite period of time. Since then the musicians have been stranded at the Musikakademie Rheinsberg in Brandenburg—together with members of the soloist ensemble PHØNIX16.

The musical collaboration now continues in Rheinsberg. The Artists-in-Berlin Program is sponsoring this collaboration with an Arts and Media Program grant made possible by funding from the Federal Foreign Office. This will allow video material to be produced for a documentary on the collaboration as well as fund the recording of a live-streaming event scheduled for May 9. OEIN will celebrate its fortieth anniversary on this date with a spectacular anniversary concert.

OEIN musicians will only be able to return to Bolivia once the country has lifted its travel ban. All participating institutions—including, in addition to the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program, the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung, the Goethe-Institut, Musikfonds e.V., the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), the Senate Department for Culture and Europe Berlin, the Landesmusikakademie Rheinsberg and the Hellerau European Centre for the Arts—are working together to resolve this extraordinary situation.

Further information on the livestream will follow here.

Photo: Timo Kreuser