Bill Murry, Jan Vogler & Friends: New Worlds

In the organizer's words:

The long-standing friendship between US actor Bill Murray and renowned German cellist Jan Vogler has resulted in a unique stage project: New Worlds. What began as a chance encounter between two artists on a long-haul flight developed into an internationally acclaimed program together with violinist Mira Wang and pianist Vanessa Perez that transcends boundaries between genres, cultures and forms of expression.

Literature and music, improvisation and interpretation meet in a dialog that is as sensitive as it is surprising. Universal genius Bill Murray sings, dances and lends his unmistakable voice to classics of American literature, including texts by Walt Whitman, Ernest Hemingway and Mark Twain. Works ranging from Johann Sebastian Bach to Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story enter into a lively exchange with the literary voices.

Together, the four artists create a multi-layered evening that combines chamber music precision with narrative power. Between recitation, singing and instrumental music, a field of tension is created that is as entertaining as it is moving - sometimes humorous and tongue-in-cheek, sometimes thoughtful and poignant.

From Carnegie Hall in New York to the Vienna Konzerthaus and the Sydney Opera House, the show has thrilled an international audience. The concert film New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2021, making the project accessible to a global audience off stage.