Events

Space and the Void – An Evening Above the Sky

A cooperation between Saint Peter's Church and the University of Lübeck, the Technical University of Applied Sciences, and the University of Music, Lübeck – Saint Peter's Church, Lübeck, 29 May, 9.30 p.m.

The sky. The sheer blue expanse above us. The kingdom of stars. The horizon of our desires. The vastness of the universe.

In Saint Peter's Church on the eve of Ascension Day, the sky will be subject to a thorough examination and artistically depicted in light, sound and action. “Das All und das Nichts” (“Space and the Void”) is the name of this event on Wednesday, 29 May at 9.30 p.m. This “Evening Above the Sky” is a joint production of the University of Lübeck, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Lübeck, the University of Music, Lübeck and the Saint Peter's Board of Trustees.

As soon as the sun sets, specially created impressive light projections and animations of stars on the sails and in the church vault will set the scene for the evening. Experts from various fields will give brief presentations on the larger, metaphorical picture. For example, Prof. Dr. Alexander Münchau (neuropsychiatry, Uni Lübeck) will describe external and internal celestial movements. Dr. Isabella Beyer, Professor for Immersive Media, who together with colleagues and students from the Technical University of Applied Sciences prepared the extensive animations, will talk about the cosmos and the virtual world. Prof. Bernd Ruf from the University of Music will give a talk on “Music in the Sky – the Sky in Music.”

The well-known physicist, science journalist and author Prof. Dr. Stefan Klein (“We Are All Stardust”, “Space and the Void”) will give the evening’s main talk and entertain the audience with fascinating insights and reflective moments.

Celestial poetry from mythical figures, played by Steffi Büttner and Ludwig-Christian Glockzin, and a cosmic soundtrack will raise the spirits of the audience. Michael Knarr (electronics and bass), Lukas Kowalski (guitar), Bernd Ruf (saxophone), Franz Danksagmüller (keyboards), and Bernd Schwarze (percussion) will improvise on the titles “Rise (&Fall?)”, “Andromeda”, and “Trance-Zen-Dance”. Knut Winkmann from Theater Lübeck will direct the evening. Pastor Dr. Bernd Schwarze, who came up with the project idea and will look at theological aspects on the evening itself, says: “We want to reflect the changes in how the world is seen: from the sky as a religious dome in Biblical times to the ‘transcendental homelessness’ of the present day.” As to whether the night in Saint Peter's Church is only for the educated, he answers, “No, anyone is welcome to come along, enjoy the evening, feel amazed ... and maybe even dance.”

Entry is free, though donations are welcome. After the event, the writer Stefan Klein will sign his books at the Arno Adler book shop table.