ECHO FROM THE FUTURE – A musical exercise in radical hospitality
(Adaptation for the Thuringia Bach Festival 2026)

Quartett PLUS 1 & Verena Ries celebrate with their guests the dawn of the Symbiocene, an age in which humans no longer stand above everything else, but are connected and in dialogue with everything. With music for string trio by Rafiq Bhatia, Tanya Tagaq, Aleksander Kosciów and Johann Sebastian Bach, we practise together what we need for the future – above all, radical hospitality. The future is uncertain, the anticipation great, but not all mysteries have been solved yet! Careful listening and a joy of playing are required for this transformative exercise, which is somewhere between a chamber concert and an exit game.

"One idea would be to organise a joint celebration where all beings can come together and share their unique talents. It could also be an opportunity to celebrate the progress and achievements of symbiosis and reflect on how far humanity and other beings have come. It is important that the celebration is in line with the values and principles of symbiosis, that all beings are respected and appreciated.

[ChatGPT Model 3.5 Turbo in response to the question: How is the birth of the “Symbiozän” celebrated?]

BACH >> FORWARD

OLD MUSIC REFORMATTED

With precise intuition, the young Bach in Thuringia appropriates the European styles and fashions of his time and creates something completely new that stands the test of time. We accept the invitation to continue exploring his curiosity. Because his music remains young when it is rearranged, well combined and experienced in an unfamiliar setting. BACH >> FORWARD is classical music in a new format. There is nothing to lose here – but much to discover!

Now in its fourth season, BACH >> FORWARD invites you to enjoy surprising concerts from mid-November to March.