PHAROS in Potsdam: An Intercultural Choral Concert as a Light Bridge
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Pharos: A Musical Lighthouse Between Germany and Egypt
On September 26, 2026, St. Nicholas Church at the Old Market in Potsdam will transform into a resonance space for cultural exchange. PHAROS – Light Bridges to a Land of Tomorrow connects international choral music, European spiritual traditions, Arabic song culture, and visual art into a unique art experience.
Choral Sound as a Bridge Between Cultures
The chamber choir Canzoneo from Berlin, the Havel Consort from Werder, and the Cairo Celebration Choir from Egypt will perform together. Works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms will meet Arabic choral music and open a multifaceted musical perspective on history, present, and future.
The Symbolism of the Ancient Pharos
The title refers to the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria – a symbol of orientation, knowledge, and understanding across geographical, religious, and historical boundaries. In the historical architecture of the Nicholas Church, this idea gains a special spatial effect: Voices, reverberation, and sacred light combine to create a concentrated exhibition atmosphere of listening.
World Premiere and Live Calligraphy
At the center is the world premiere of Bernhard Barth's four-part work PHAROS. Under the direction of Egyptian conductor Nayer Nagui, a sound image unfolds, accompanied by a live performance from Arabic calligrapher Shahid Alam. As the music sounds, an image of a lighthouse develops from Arabic script – an immediate connection of composition, movement, materiality, and visual form.
Aesthetic Experience and Cultural Education
PHAROS invites you to experience the work with your ears and eyes. The aesthetic experience arises from the interplay of multi-voiced painting of sound, liturgical timbre, Arabic song tradition, and performative calligraphy. The concert makes cultural education sensually tangible and demonstrates how music opens spaces for dialogue and shared memory.
Conclusion: A Concert as a Sign of Understanding
Visitors can expect an intercultural choral concert of significant musical and visual intensity. Those who wish to experience choral music, sacred spaces, contemporary premieres, and international cultural encounters should attend PHAROS live at St. Nicholas Church.
Official Channels of PHAROS and the Participating Choirs:
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- Website: https://www.potsdamtourismus.de/event/pharos-lichtbruecken-in-ein-land-von-morgen
