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
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.
New Year’s Concert Stories in Sand
Bremerhaven, Germany
January 1, 2025 17:00
The art of sand painting, which brings magnificent visual panoramas to life on a sandy surface projected onto a screen, has long captivated audiences. Ukrainian sand artist Svetlana Telbukh will transform the music performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra into stunning sand paintings during the New Year’s concert.
For instance, the Witches’ Sabbath at midnight on the Bald Mountain and the enchanted forest from Shakespeare and Mendelssohn’s *A Midsummer Night’s Dream* will come alive through both sound and imagery. Additionally, the broomstick from Goethe’s *The Sorcerer’s Apprentice* will playfully emerge on the screen while being musically depicted in Paul Dukas’s symphonic poem.
Metamorphosis of the soul
Zwickau, Germany
October 2, 2024 19:30
Philharmonic concert featuring captivating sand animation by Svetlana Telbukh, presented by the Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau under conductor GMD Leo Siberski.
The sand animation will enhance the Fourth Symphony, visually interpreting the emotional journey from darkness to light, with each musical phrase symbolizing liberation and triumph. The concert program includes Peer Baierlein’s Davids Bündler (commissioned work, world premiere), Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 performed by Ray Harada, winner of the 2024 International Schumann Competition, and Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120.
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
Spain’s got talent
On the TV show “Spain’s Got Talent,” sand artist Svetlana Telbukh delivered something truly unique to the audience. She took on the challenging task of creating portraits of the judges using sand, a material that demands exceptional skill and precision. Every movement was carefully thought out.
The audience was stunned when they recognized the judges, and the hall erupted in a standing ovation.
Metamorphosis of the Soul
t the 2nd Philharmonic Concert, the “Schumann Open,” sand artist Svetlana Telbukh will create her own artwork during Robert Schumann’s 4th Symphony, enriching the musical experience with a stunning sand animation. Two ephemeral art forms meet, inspiring one another.
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.
