Teaching impulses

A new interpretation of "Pictures at an Exhibition"
From 8th grade onwards
 

Marimba virtuoso Christoph Sietzen and his colleagues from the Wave Quartet have succeeded in creating an astonishing new interpretation: they present Modest Mussorgsky's piano cycle "Pictures at an Exhibition" in a colourful arrangement for four marimbas, virtuosic and with a new sound. Together, the four musicians make the mallets whirl, but also elicit sounds of the greatest delicacy from the marimba. Mussorgsky's famous "Pictures at an Exhibition" is full of surprises in this way. In the teaching impulse we invite you to take a closer look at the work in connection with the marimba.

Registration until Fri 21.11.2025

Reference concert: "The Wave Quartet", Philharmonie.7 - One hour (R)auszeit, Tue 03.02.2026, 19:00 h

Gershwin | Ravel | Stravinsky
From 10th grade onwards

The "Gershwin | Ravel | Stravinsky" concert programme is all about contrasts that could not have been greater at the time they were composed. Under the direction of Nicholas Collon, the Aurora Orchestra presents Maurice Ravel's Boléro, George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Igor Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du printemps" - all performed entirely from memory. The works, which are among the most famous of the 20th century, bring together a wide variety of styles, united by a passion for rhythm and the sonorous incorporation of different cultures into classical orchestral music. The teaching impulse invites you to engage creatively with the performers and the multifaceted nature of the concert programme.

Registration until Fri 16.01.2026

Reference concert: "Hayato Sumino | Aurora Orchestra | Nicholas Collon", Tue 21.04.2026, 20:00, Kölner Philharmonie

The beautiful miller's wife
From 9th grade onwards

What kind of stories do poems and pictures tell us? What can a song express that a poem or picture alone cannot? How do I process feelings in a song?

The world of Schubert's famous song cycle "Die schöne Müllerin" forms the focus of this teaching impulse, in which the genre of the art song is explored and the students also listen to their own voices - before they all experience the song recital by Julian Prégardien and pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout in the Kölner Philharmonie.

Registration until Fri 30.01.2026

Reference concert: Julian Prégardien | Kristian Bezuidenhout "Die schöne Müllerin", Tue 09.06.2026, 20:00 h

Dates: 1 school visit of 90 minutes as part of lessons (in the 4 weeks before the concert day (see notes for exceptions), followed by a concert visit to the Kölner Philharmonie (see concert dates)

Costs: € 10 per pupil including concert ticket (discounts available for KölnPass holders). A ticket for travelling within the VRS area is included in the concert ticket. Teachers receive one free ticket per 10 pupils to accompany the class and fulfil their duty of supervision. 

Booking: Once you have confirmed your registration, you will receive the concert tickets during the teaching impulse in your class. The invoice will be sent to you after the concert.