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.
FEATURED IN THE MEDIA
On October 3, 2019, our performance with the Philharmonic Orchestra Kiel was broadcast live on Germany’s national television channel ZDF, reaching an audience of approximately one million viewers.
The concert was held as part of the official celebration for German Unity Day and took place in the Arena in Kiel. It featured a powerful artistic collaboration under the baton of General Music Director Benjamin Reiners.
While the orchestra performed works by Bernstein, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and Schumann, Svetlana Telbukh simultaneously created evocative sand art on the theme of German unity.
The performance received widespread coverage in the national and regional press, including major features in Kieler Nachrichten, which described Svetlana as one of the “secret stars of the ceremony.”
Among the distinguished guests in the audience were Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel, both of whom attended in person.
It was a deeply moving moment that remains one of the most significant highlights in our artistic journey.
With this performance, the Philharmonic Orchestra Kiel made its major television debut — and provided the perfect musical backdrop for the official celebration. With great enthusiasm, the conductor and his orchestra opened the ceremony with Leonard Bernstein’s overture to "Candide". This was followed by movements from symphonies by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Robert Schumann.
KIEL NEWS 4 OCTOBER 2019
A particular challenge during Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s piece was that sand artist Svetlana Telbukh was simultaneously creating live sand art themed around German unification.
Everything went smoothly, and the audience responded with enthusiastic applause.
Poetry slammer Mona Harry, who rose to nationwide fame with her internet hit "Love Poem to the North", closed by stirring the audience with powerful words, calling for “courage to stand up against the enemies of democracy.”
THE ORCHESTRA DELIVERED MASTERFUL PERFORMANCES
HIDDEN STAR OF THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY
The hidden stars of the official ceremony at the Arena were sand artist Svetlana Telbukh and poetry slammer Mona Harry.
Telbukh used fine sand and her hands to bring modern German history to life on a large screen above the stage.
Harry, in her poem "Tests of Courage", picked up the event’s motto "Courage connects" and remained completely focused throughout her performance, undistracted even by a camera crane hovering nearby.
AT THE ARENA WAS SAND ARTIST SVETLANA TELBUKH
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.
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.
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.
