Short portraitHimmel über Adelsheim (Heaven above Adelsheim) by Stuttgarter Chamber Orchestra e.V.
The Stuttgarter Kammerorchester (chamber orchestra) rounds up juvenile delinquents of the Adelsheim prison with orchestra musicians and the rapper Afrob. Accompanied and guided by word acrobats, musicians and a director, the young people develop an opera about their stories and dreams and present it in public performances.
“An interdisciplinary experiment in a youth prison. At the same time, an open and self-confident project that gives these young people the opportunity to be part of an artistic production, introduces new perspectives and frees them from their role. A project that destigmatizes and enriches both sides in the encounter of two worlds”, says the jury.
3 new questions to … Markus Korselt, Director of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
We deliberately put the concept on paper with a lot of leeway in order to be able to engage more intensively in a joint process during the development. Nevertheless, we had great respect for the reality of a working atmosphere in the prison insofar as we could not estimate how we would be received by the young people. We had not dared to hope that this project would not only produce an artistically impressive result, but also that a strong mutual trust would develop, which would give them great courage, the joy of experimentation and pleasure in their own creative work.
For us, the award is a great honour that has confirmed the project both internally and in external communication and made it more visible to the public. Looking back, the award was a motivation to “go through” with this project.
We have already applied for a next project in cooperation with Adelsheim Prison and would like to realise another larger project in 2024. We are in contact with individual inmates who have been allowed to leave the prison in the meantime and are already organising further artistic meetings and projects.
3 questions to … Markus Korselt, Director of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
The Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the rapper Afrob and prisoners of the Adelsheim prison jointly invent a classical hip-hop opera.
We will use the funding to finance the participating artists and educators as well as the music arrangements.
…that there could be more music and less prison.