James Gregory Atkinson
W. A. Mozart für Sal. Orch. gesetzt v. Sabac-el-Cher

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Classical Concert with The String Archestra and other musicians

Sat, 29.08., 2 PM
Sun, 30.08., 5 PM

As part of MINSK LIVE, James Gregory Atkinson will present the artistic project W. A. Mozart für Sal. Orch. gesetzt v. Sabac-el-Cher, consisting of an orchestral performance and an accompanying program of talks.

For this project, Atkinson explores the story of Gustav Sabac el Cher. Born in Berlin in 1868, Sabac el Cher grew up in a courtly environment, as his father, August Sabac el Cher, was the valet to Prince Albrecht of Prussia. Both Gustav and August are figures in the largely marginalized history of Black lives in Germany, a historical narrative that long remained invisible in the nation's cultural memory.

Gustav Sabac el Cher showed musical talent from a young age and later became a composer and bandmaster in Königsberg, East Prussia. After his military career, he composed his own music and arranged classical pieces for military ensembles. Two rare scores arranged by Gustav Sabac el Cher from the archive of James Gregory Atkinson form the basis for the musical performance at MINSK LIVE.

On the initiative of Atkinson and under the direction of Daniele G. Daude, The String Archestra and guest musicians will reinterpret two pieces arranged by Gustav Sabac el Cher: the overture to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera and to Francesco Bianchi’s opera La Villanelle rapita (incorrectly attributed to Mozart in the historical score). The performance draws on an expansive understanding of the archive, whereby places, bodies, and oral and performative practices become both vessels and sounding boards for history.

The pieces will be performed twice: on Saturday, August 29, at 2:00 p.m. and on Sunday, August 30, at 5:00 p.m. To accompany the concert program, James Gregory Atkinson will present his album 3 Lieder für Marie Nejar on Saturday, August 29. On Sunday, August 30, there will be a discussion between Atkinson, the writer and activist Katharina Oguntoye, and the musicologist and saxophonist Harald Kisiedu. Both events will be moderated by the writer and editor Eric Otieno Sumba.

Admission is free. Due to limited seating, registration is required.