daniel libeskind + cosentino reveal new installation for frankfurt

daniel libeskind + cosentino reveal etched installation to accompany 24-hour opera in frankfurt
image © studio libeskind

on may 21 and 22, 2016, the german city of frankfurt will open the doors to 18 unique concert venues, setting the stage for 75 consecutive opera performances. the 24-hour musical experience is titled ‘one day in life’, and has been curated by architect daniel libeskind and organized by the alte oper concert hall. the occasion explores various dimensions of human existence by juxtaposing music with urban spaces. to accompany the event, cosentino — leading producer of quartz, natural stone, and architectural surfaces — has collaborated with libeskind to create an installation that serves as a visual representation of the unconventional musical journey.

the installation serves as a visual representation of the musical journey
image © studio libeskind

as visitors approach the main plaza in front of frankfurt’s alte oper, they will encounter ‘musical labyrinth’, a 289 square meter landscape etched with libeskind’s original concept sketch for the project. the platform is constructed from 80 black dekton slabs etched in white relief. the lines of the sketch illustrate a labyrinth within the city, indicating points that correlate to the addresses of the different venues — each location a metaphor for 18 of life’s basic conditions.

‘musical labyrinth’ is located in the main plaza in front of frankfurt’s alte oper
image © studio libeskind

the public are invited to walk on and interact with the installation as a piece of public art. ‘every city creates its own structure through dreams,’ explains libeskind. ‘the streets we walk on and the topographies we experience exist simultaneously in reality and mystery.’ the installation forms the fourth collaboration between cosentino and daniel libeskind, who previously created beyond the wall — first presented during milan design week and now permanently installed at cosentino’s headquarters in almeria, spain.

the lines of the sketch illustrate an imaginary labyrinth within the city
image © studio libeskind

using the abstracted map as a starting point, members of the public are free to explore the event’s various concert locations — several of which are held in locations not normally accessible to the public. a hospital operating theater forms the intimate backdrop for marin marais’ ‘le tableau de l’operation de la taille’, while the underground repositories of the german national library host peter ablinger’s ‘voices and piano’. other unexpected locations include a boxing gym, a bunker, a moving streetcar, and the subway platform in frankfurt’s central station, as well as historically charged venues such as the apartment building in which oskar schindler once lived.

the sketch indicates points that correlate to the addresses of the different venues
image © studio libeskind

performers include prestigious artists and ensembles such as the pianist pierre-laurent aimard, the violinist carolin widmann, the frankfurt radio symphony and the ensemble modern. students from frankfurt am main university of music and performing arts will also play their part. libeskind has personally selected all of the music, which includes works by claudio monteverdi, wolfgang amadeus mozart and franz schubert, alongside pieces by contemporary composers, indian ragas and electronic music.

the rebstockbad is one of germany’s most frequented water parks
image © alte oper frankfurt / norbert miguletz

‘what excites me the most about this project is that it is a kind of experiment of culture — very much the way the city itself operates,’ says daniel libeskind. ‘I have always experienced music not only as a passion, but as something that deeply informs and shapes my work as an architect. this project exceeds my wildest dreams in terms of exploring and examining these connections between the city, existence, music and space.’

a hospital operating theater forms the intimate backdrop for a performance
image © alte oper frankfurt / norbert miguletz

each program will be repeated several times at each location in two-hour intervals to allow the opportunity to experience an entire day of music. audiences can plan their own personal route by using a specially developed online ticketing system. visitors can make their way between concert locations on foot, by bike, or using public transport, (included in the ticket price). ‘one day in life’ will take place on the weekend of may 21 and 22, 2016.

frankfurt’s VGF Betriebshofand rail yard depot will stage mozart’s requiem
image © alte oper frankfurt / norbert miguletz