HIDALGO Festival 2020

In view of the coronavirus crisis, the theme of this year’s HILDAGO Festival seems almost prophetic; the upcoming edition is dedicated to the subject of “failure” in all its facets. Using elements of music, dramaturgy and concert design, the festival investigates this existentially intimate experience which inevitably exists in every area of personal and social life. We fail to meet our own expectations, we experience failure in relationships, in sports and careers, we fail to resolve political and social issues of cultural identity and belonging. The central focus and starting point of HILDAGO is the art song in its role as a timeless, text-based medium. The festival artistically examines the accompanying symptoms of failure, such as disappointment, embarrassment, yearning and desire, and even humour and rapture, and interprets them in song performances and orchestral concerts. Young up-and-coming international artists from nine countries will perform works by Shostakovich, Eisler, Dowland, Schubert, Beethoven, Antoli and Mokranjac at unusual locations in Munich. Programme events such as “Street Art Song”, “Abysses” and “Distant Beloved” will be staged around the city, e.g. in a climbing hall, an installation and a co-working space. The festival aims to blur the boundaries dividing genres and artistic areas – high culture meets fringe. Podium discussions and expert panels will accompany the festival which is being organised in cooperation with the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts, the Mozarteum Salzburg, the Impact Hub Munich and the dramaturgy collective “Trugschluss”.

Artistic director: Tom Wilmersdörffer
Musical director: Johanna Malangré, Johanna Pichlmair
Singers: Andromahi Raptis, Hagar Sharvit

Companies/ensembles/orchestras: HIDALGO and the HIDALGO Festival Orchestra, Synesthetic Project, Trugschluss