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Sand Stories of the World
Travel is an endless book, the pages of which are written not with ink, but with the winds of distant lands, the rustle of sands, and the splash of oceans. The 90-Minutes sand animation concert “Sand Stories of the World” transports the audience on a journey across continents, just as one flips through the pages of the wondrous book of life. Over the course of 90 minutes, entire worlds unfold before the viewers—majestic mountains of Tibet, boundless deserts of the Sahara, the tumultuous waters of the Amazon, and the lights of nocturnal Tokyo. Each movement of the sand under the artist’s hands creates a new chapter in this book, one that can never be fully read, for as Heinrich Heine wrote, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel see only one page of it.” But this concert offers the chance to glimpse many pages, to feel the beauty and diversity of a world that comes alive for a moment, destined to remain forever in your heart.
THE MAGIC OF TRANSIENCE
SAND ANIMATION OFFERS A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF VISUAL AND AUDIOVISUAL EXPERIENCE, OPENING UP NEW HORIZONS FOR THE PERCEPTION OF ART
For the viewer, it’s an opportunity to immerse themselves in the magic of transience, watching as entire stories are created before their eyes, only to come to life and vanish in the same moment.
Each image is created in real time, and the audience witnesses how vivid and dynamic visuals emerge from simple sand under the artist’s hands. This process is captivating, creating the sensation that time has momentarily stopped. One image smoothly flows into the next, taking the viewer on an enthralling visual journey where every moment is unique and filled with meaning.
The fleeting nature of sand animation adds a special charm: what you see exists only here and now, never to be exactly repeated. This creates a sense of magic, as the sand comes to life under the artist’s hands, then disappears, leaving behind only memories and strong emotions.
FUTURE SHOW
SHOW
LOCATION
DATE
The Spectre’s Bride
Hof
January 30, 2026 19:30
THE SPECTRE’S BRIDE is a gripping ghost story that unfolds between longing, hope, despair, and terror—until the redeeming dawn. An orphaned girl waits for years for the return of her missing beloved, who finally appears to her as a bridegroom from hell, forcing her on a nocturnal ride to the cemetery. Passing decayed marshes, surrounded by will-o’-the-wisps and the howling of wild beasts, they race through the darkness until the first crow of the rooster and the first rays of the sun put an end to the haunting and set the bride free.
Antonín Dvořák’s operatic cantata THE SPECTRE’S BRIDE (1884) is based on the dark legend Svatební košile (literally: “The Wedding Shirts”) by Czech poet Karel Jaromír Erben. For the first time, this powerful work—rarely heard on stage—can now be experienced at Theater Hof in a concert performance featuring soloists, the opera chorus, and the Hof Symphony Orchestra. As a special highlight, internationally acclaimed sand artist Svetlana Telbukh will bring the imaginative and emotional world of the legend to life through live sand animation.
Le Landeron — 700 years
Le Landeron, Switzerland
October 31, 2025 18:00
Le Landeron — 700 years of history brought to life through sand, light and voice.
On October 31 and November 1, a poetic 45-minute sand animation concert will be presented in honor of the anniversary of Le Landeron.
The story of the town unfolds through a fusion of live sand animation, narration, and atmospheric light design, creating a moving visual journey.
Every gesture becomes the breath of time, every line a memory, every spark of light an expression of gratitude.
Two performances each evening: 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Duration: approx. 45 minutes
Location: Le Landeron, Switzerland
Production: Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Victoria Giorgini
Light Design: Illumination SA
The Whisper of Flowers
Vullierens, Switserland
August 28, 2025 20:00
The Whisper of Flowers is a poetic 45-minute concert blending live piano music, sand animation, and narration into an immersive visual and musical experience.
Inspired by the 70-year history of the iris gardens, the performance unfolds like a living story: each flower reveals its hidden secrets as images appear and dissolve in real time, shaped from grains of sand while the piano accompanies their journey.
Three artists unite to bring this universe to life — a pianist, a narrator, and sand-art virtuoso Lana Telbukh (Sand Elf).
Production: Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
Piano: CarolynWoods-Jardine
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Victoria Giorgini
Swiss Legends
Geneva, Switzerland
June 27, 2025 21:00
Swiss Legends is a captivating 45-minute sand animation performance inspired by Swiss mythology and legendary figures, including the haunting tale of La Fée Noire du Jura. Created by sand-art virtuoso Lana Telbukh (Sand Elf), the show blends live music and narration into an immersive visual journey.
Each scene appears and dissolves in real time, transforming ancient Swiss stories into living images shaped from grains of sand.
Produced by Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
General Concept: Victoria Giorgini
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Guillaume Pidancet
Light Design: Illumination SA
A poetic tribute to Switzerland’s cultural heritage — magical, atmospheric, and unforgettable.
Sand and Sound
Frauenfeld, Switserland
May 25, 2025 20:00
An exclusive unplugged live concert featuring Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant, will be accompanied by the captivating sand-art performance of Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh. Visitors will experience a unique fusion of live music and real-time sand artistry. As Remo Forrer delivers the emotional soundtrack of the evening, the talented artist Lana Telbukh transforms the music into mesmerizing sand images, created live before the audience. The event will be hosted by Andy Zellweger, the well-known morning show presenter from RADIO TOP.
Organization is provided by Must HAVE Frauenfeld, a brand dedicated to stylish second-hand fashion and sustainable labels that prove fashion can be both trendy and environmentally friendly.
Music Remo Forrer
Moderator Andy Zellweger
Sand animation Lana Telbukh
School Concert The Little Mermaid
Gera, Germany
February 11, 2025 09:00
Experience the enchanting tale of “The Little Mermaid” brought to life through mesmerizing sand animation by Svetlana Telbukh, in collaboration with the Theater Altenburg Gera. Under the direction of conductor Changmin Park, the orchestra will perform Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,” with narration by Ruth Ohlmann. This performance blends music and visual storytelling, immersing the audience in the Little Mermaid’s journey of love and curiosity in the human world.
BELOVED SAND SHOW
Sand Stories of the World has rightfully become the most popular sand animation show among audiences in Europe. Svetlana has performed this concert in theaters across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, and Belgium, where it has been enjoyed by thousands of viewers.
Minich Germany
Prinzregententheater Munchen
Berlin Germany
The Wühlmäuse Theater
Hamburg Germany
Comedy Winterhuder Fahrhaus
Stuttgart Germany
Mozart Hall in the Culture and Congress Center Liederhalle
REVIEW
Next project
Little Mermaid
Enchanting story of the “Little Mermaid” brought to life through the fascinating sand animation of Svetlana Telbukh in collaboration with the Theater Altenburg Gera. Under the direction of conductor Changmin Park, the orchestra will perform Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”, accompanied by the narration of Ruth Ohlmann. This performance combines music and visual storytelling and immerses the audience in the little mermaid’s journey full of love and curiosity in the human world.
Live concert with Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant
An exclusive unplugged live concert featuring Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant, will be accompanied by the captivating sand-art performance of Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh.
Visitors will experience a unique fusion of live music and real-time sand artistry. As Remo Forrer delivers the emotional soundtrack of the evening, the talented artist Svetlana Telbukh transforms the music into mesmerizing sand images, created live before the audience.
Day of German Unity
On October 3, 2019, during the live broadcast of the “Day of German Unity” celebration from Kiel on ZDF, the Philharmonic Orchestra Kiel performed accompanied by Svetlana Telbukh, who presented a touching sand animation story about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
