Musik +

With musik+, the Verein der Freunde und Förderer der Musik in Mönchengladbach developed, in collaboration with the Stadtbibliothek Mönchengladbach, a new concert series for the Wandelsaal of the Zentralbibliothek in the Carl Brandts Haus. The idea was not to simplify classical music, but to rethink the conditions of listening: making them more personal, more immediate and rooted in direct exchange with the audience.

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The work began long before the first note was played. As part of the MedienWerkstatt, an initiative of the DesignCampus in collaboration with the Stadtbibliothek, young people worked together with scenographer Paula Vollmer to develop spatial concepts, moodboards and campaign ideas. The workshop, made possible by the Musikfreunde, transformed the Wandelsaal through carefully considered spatial interventions into an open and welcoming place of encounter.

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The series opened on 23 April 2026 with the Duo Kravets–Kassung of the Kölner Klassik Ensemble. Cellist Lena Kravets and guitarist Tobias Kassung brought together classical music, tango and contemporary music in their programme Zwischen Traum und Tango.

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As moderator, I guided the evening while consciously moving away from the traditional format of introducing individual works. The starting point was the musicians and their relationship to the music: why these particular pieces? How do arrangements and original compositions come into being? What experiences connect the artists to this programme today? The aim was for moderation to become conversation, and for listening to become a shared experience.

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Young people were also directly involved in shaping the evening. The Standpunkt team accompanied the concert through organisation, photography, video, interviews and reporting. Farida, Vivan, Teodora, Caroline, Janina, Justus, Emil, Malina and Helene captured impressions and voices before, during and after the concert.

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Over the course of the evening, precisely the sense of closeness the project had sought began to emerge. Musicians and audience became directly aware of one another. Music, reactions and conversations became part of the same experience.

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For this reason, musik+ does not understand the concert simply as the presentation of a programme. Here, music happens in a space that allows encounter to take place — between the work, the musicians and the people who listen.