Music

The music programme at the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, led by Marlene Engel, introduces audiences to radical experiments in sound and performance, challenging traditional notions of music and live concerts. The programming seeks to redefine how music is experienced, moving beyond the confines of the traditional concert hall to present sound, performance, and architecture as equally significant components. Drawing inspiration from Berlin’s vibrant international music and art scenes, the program emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches that integrate all facets of theatrical artistry.

Programmatic openness allows for an exploration of emerging trends in pop- and counter culture, electronic- and experimental music, club culture, composition, as well as innovative practices in dance, performance, and visual arts. It highlights the political and technological dimensions of these fields, with a focus on collaborative programming that incorporates diverse curatorial perspectives to challenge traditional power dynamics in the selection process. Commissioned productions play a vital part in strengthening ties and cooperation with artist across disciplines.

Volksbühne invites musicians, artists, performers, and their audiences to experience music not only as artistic expression on the individual level, but as a collaborative act transcending disciplinary boundaries and opening new avenues for artistic and social engagement. The programming explores the political potential of art, examining its capacity to challenge societal structures and envision alternative realities. Queerness, feminism, decolonizing strategies and social justice are key issues that not only figure prominently at the content level, but also at the level of team work. Projects are developed collaboratively with a strong focus on care, community and diversity. This collective-oriented approach is a driver of aesthetic innovation and creates works that powerfully assert their social relevance.