Today the Blue Man Group is a mega business. The beginnings date back to 1987 when to childhood friends Chris Wink and Matt Goldmann met again after college in New York met Phil Stanton and performed in Central Park, Dixon Place, the Performing Garage and PS122. Many times people comment on the influence of the Brasilian group Uakti, who used old containers made of PVC as drums in their shows since the late 70s. Dressed in black with the face painted blue, a latex cap and blue gloves, the trio started  to shake up Manhattan and made a name for themselves which brought them various awards and mentionings in the Village Voice and the New York Times.

At first the Blue Men used to greet their audience after shows, sign autographs and mingled with their audience, but after a while they had to stop to maintain a certain distance between them and the public, now they just splash you with blue color if you see them after the show and if you sit very close to stage they cover you with plastic so you don’t wind up covered in color. I wonder what Yves Klein thought when he saw them perform…Sure is that the show of the Blue Man Group is an experience of its own, fast percussions, frenetic music, humor. Furthermore their shows are charged with critic about modern life, its incoherence and contamination.

Also you can count on recording, my favorite is Audio from 1999, Without vocals Audio is put together by instrumentals from their performances along with intruments they don’t use in their shows. The next recording “The Complex” had its own tour in 2003 in which a couple of vocalists participated on stage. This stage was risky because it took apart the beginnings of “Arena Rock” and did parodies of many of their representatives like devo and Ozzy Osbourne.

With a lot of postmodern flavor the Blue Man Group is somewhere between performance and music, knowing how to widen the horizon and turn themselves into an business that performs in the most important cities of the world. The first shows of the Blue Man Group in Berlin were back in 2005. Since then the stage and the show has gone through an evolution becoming one of the most popular shows in Germany at the moment. For more information and tickets visit: http://www.blueman.com/

SISTER RAY

Berlin is a city of endless possibilities and even more with the Blue Man Group. You have to rent apartments in Berlin now in spring, The Blue Man Group will be there until July so don’t miss them.

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Translated by: Maria
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Allright. We have been living in a post-Trainspotting era for quite some time now. Something happened in the 90s, people admit to having read William Borroughs or admit to hating him. Everyone saw movies like Nowhere, Drugstore Cowboy, Natural Born Killers and Requiem for a Dream. The result was the so-called Generation X. Whatever…The whole world took drugs and mega movies were produced depicting the story of lost teenagers in this pathetic world who take drugs to escape their conflicts and the run-down reality. This said, we have to admit that not much has changed.

Meet Helene Hegemann. Last year this girl published Axolotl Roadkill, a walk through the streets of Berlin filled with drugs and overindulgence that quickly turned into a bestseller, not only because of the controversy content, but also because the author was only 16 when she wrote the book. The interesting thing about this book is the short and to the point manner in which she documents and confronts her experience in a society like ours that is so media-saturated and the image stands above all.

This brat stirred up even more controversy because she used excerpts from different blogs, that write about drugs, techno and underage sex and incorporated them in her book. In many of her interviews Helene says that this is not plagiarism but “mixing”, just like a DJ. And again the problems of copyright and rights of the author arise. In a moment where our culture is heavily based on the quick distribution and sharing of information through the internet, where everything gets shared and communicated in real-time, and borders between fiction, reality, original, story are blurry to a point where we can’t grasp it.

The book also talks about clubs and parts of Berlin where many underground parties take place, where to get drugs and more experience. The end is far from a happy ending. At the moment the book is being translated into English, so if you don’t speak German you have to wait a little. It is definitely worth reading, not that it’s a masterpiece but it tells you about a lot of things that are going on in Berlin at the moment and you notice the cynical approach we all take on when it comes to our body, sex and drugs.

SISTER RAY

Meanwhile the best you can do might be renting apartments in Berlin to live out your own novel. On the internet you can find more information about the book. Berlin is always in motion, just like New York, just in a different way. You have the freedom to reinvent yourself.

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Translated by: Maria
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The Philharmonic Hall in Berlin, near metro station Potsdamer platz, will be the setting for The Berlin Easter Tango Festival – a homage to the popular Argentinian style of music which has widely influenced the worlds of literature, theatre and art. The concert takes place on the 23rd of April, with performances from German orchestras and invited Argentinian artists.

The festival hopes to satisfy an increasing interest in tango throughout Europe, where countless bars and clubs are playing host to musicians performing both classic and experimental styles of the genre. The Berlin festival is placing special emphasis on neo-tango, the new sounds which mix jazz and classical in an effort to attract fans of tango, young and old alike.

The sophistication and the development of tango music and dance is the theme of this marvellous festival, along with participation from Cantango Berlin and Buenos Aires Tangomasterdancers orchestras, and dancers Ester Duarte & Chiche Nuñez and Federico Farfaro & Liesl Bourke.

Tango was born around the end of the 19th century, amongst poor European emigrants in search of a better life in Buenos Aires. It was this illusion of a better life, coupled with the nostalgia for the old continent which would create the chemistry, and key to tango culture.

Tango is from the souls of the working classes, who would lament their bad luck through nostalgic guitar music. The words to the songs reveal a strong social spirit, and a passionate reaction to injustice.

In 1889, The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language recognised the work Tango, defining it as “the celebration and dance of the blacks.” 100 years later, due to its enormous popularity and influence on the arts, the definition changed to “Argentinian dance between two people, binary musical form, internationally known.”
Strangely enough, tango arrived first at the dance halls of Europe and North America, before reaching Argentina. The young Argentinian bourgeoisie would go down to the slums to meet women – and from their travels to Europe and the States would bring back the music which has been prohibited. In Paris society, tango provoked a frenzy, and it became all the rage in the 1920s.

Today the classic beat of 2×4 has been reinvented and reinterpreted many times, and many new instruments and sounds have been added – such as with fusion group Gotan Project. However, figures such as Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzola continue to be the great icons of tango, with the first representing the macho, sexual side to tango iconography, and the latter famous for mixing the classic European style with the Argentinian passion.

For more information http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/concerts/kalender/programme-details/konzert/8317/termin/2011-04-23-20-00/

Nancy Guzman

If you are a lover of tango, and you happen to be renting apartments in Berlin take advantage of this festival, and move on to the tango clubs afterwards.

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Translated by: Poppy
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Spring arrives and German dark scene begins to shake the rhythm of the best bands in the world. This year the second version of the Dark Spring festival in Berlin with the presence of bands like Nosferatu, Merciful Nuns (former Garden of Delight) and… well, before giving details of this year’s festival I will tell you a little about the first version made ​​in 2010 and the bands.

Despite being a new small festival compared to the Wave Gotik Treffen or Mera Luna, which could be included within the category of megafestivals, the Dark Spring festival is the first one of the dark spring festivals, which is full of great festivals. The 2010 version was held in March and was attended by Whispers in the shadows, Vendemnian, Golden Apes and Pretentious Moi?, setting the darkwave goth and rock trend of the festival, which continues and grows in 2011 with an excellent lineup. The date for this new version is April 23, a month later than last year’s edition. This decision has also been taken by the organization Treffen this year, as they changed their traditional  date in May to June. As I disclosed, the powerful lineup announces the presentation of Nosferatu, Merciful Nuns, Escape with Romeo, Midas fall and Golden Apes, and as if this was not enough, the after-party is in hands of two awesome DJs, Ian P. Christ and Thomas Thyssen, who is at the turntables at the famous Wave Gotik Treffen festival, “When We Were Young”.

The festival is held in room S036, OranienStraBe 190, 10999, Berlin, on April 23 and the schedule starts at 20:00 hrs, but the end… who knows? The price is 20€. What else could I add to improve the picture? I guess nothing, it is unbeatable.

For further info: http://www.myspace.com/darkspringfestival

Luz Obscura

Party Dark The festival season in Germany starts and you cannot miss it, rent apartments in Berlin for the Dark Spring festival and start planning the trip and the rental for June, July and August because it does not stop!

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Translated by: Maria
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The Ken doll is already fifty and Mattel, which gave life to both Ken and his girlfriend Barbie, used his birthday to organize a series of celebrations in the Toy Fair in Germany.

Ken was presented to the public represented by several male models who posed dressed like the dolls they were carrying in their hands. Wearing sleek striped swimwear, sixties style shirts and starched tuxedos; the eternal lover’s look seemed a little démodé. Especially considering that the greedy toy industry makes the dolls pull the rug out from under their feet to attract an increasingly demanding child target.

This cruel and constant competition took Mattel, the most successful toy company’s, to try in various ways, to recover the sales of Ken and Barbie dolls, as they have been decreasing for ten years. In an attempt to revise traditional couples, Mattel presented, at some time, a more jovial Ken with long hair and jeans. On another occasion, with the aim of capturing adult clientele, they launched a “Sugar Daddy” Ken as aged gallants who exchange money or gifts for accompaniment are known.

However, this did little to counter the success of his fiercest opponent, the Bratz’s. With a cheeky look, the Bratz couple has what Barbie and Ken are missing: the power of today’s children to identify with them.

A new look is not enough and Ken, who went through more than forty different occupations throughout history and has worn clothes for each season, has been met, in this generation, with the need for a real change in physiognomy. The Bratz couple does not look a sleek and elegant body of two catwalk models, but they are short, have big heads and a casual, urban style. The girls now prefer Bratz’s teen image, modern and sassy and Barbie, who was the most famous doll in history, is facing a crisis ahead of a society that no longer believes in the values ​​she represents.

Until the arrival of Bratz, Barbie took ninety percent of the market. When the Bratz were launched, many thought they would fail due to the totally different design of the Barbies. However, they were soon seducing a new generation with its thirty different versions and daring costumes and makeup. Mattel responded this by launching two lines of dolls with a very similar design to its new competitor, but were unsuccessful.

Mattel did not remain helpless and in 2009 initiated a lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, which had Bratz’s patents. A court ruled that Carter Bryant, creator of the dolls, had the idea while employed by Mattel, and therefore by the end of 2010 the company was left with the legal ownership of the Bratz dolls and its little colourful couple.

Laura Aurelia

And this story of these sweet characters continues, if you want to know how it concludes, rent apartments in Berlin and visit the Toy Fair, where you can tell if it is time for Barbie and Ken to finally retire.

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Translated by: Maria
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Bearversions is Berlin’s bear option. A week of good vibes, meeting other bears and living life to the max. As well as encounters, sex and everything else you could wish from a week of escaping with other like-minded bears – it’s also a time of great community and camaraderie. Bearversions is organised by foundation Spreebären, formed in 1999, with the incentive of bringing together all the big, hairy men of the world and their admirers. The association aims to enrich the bear community in Berlin, and help facilitate social interaction between its members. Anyone can join – there are no rules, just so long as you really, really like bears.

The event is organized so that each day offers something different to do with your partner, or new bear friends – from underwear parties to guided city tours. But what I find the most intriguing the bear underwear party. At these sorts of parties, they often ask that nobody wears any kind of fragrance – so that, I imagine, that everybody’s natural hormonal scents mix, intensifying the excitement. Like a simple chemical reaction. Sweating in the disco will attract attention – but not because of the way you are dancing…

I personally am bisexual, and have still never been to a purely bear party – but I am definitely very curious. In general, I tend have other tastes when I sleep with gay men – which is why it’s all the more interesting. The bear community is getting bigger and bigger – though, in terms of the worldwide image of homosexuality, the “bear attitude” is still little known. Perhaps more widespread in Europe – the bear community still has a long way to go, and a lot more minds to open. The gay community has numerous outlets of expression as we all know – making it more interesting than ever, with higher tolerance meaning more and more people able to celebrate their sexuality.

When you get to Bearvisions, you find two bars which are the epicenter of the bear world in Berlin – the Maxxx and the Woof. Both play the best music around, and are the best places to meet the most beautiful bear boys – big, strong, bearded and hairy. Others worth mentioning are Bärenhöhle, HarDie’s Kneipe and the New Action. For more information about the bear community of Berlin, as well as all the details of this year’s Bearvision, visit the website: http://www.spreebaeren.de/

SISTER RAY

If you’re a bear, rent apartments in Berlin – Bearversions is all about romance and partying, and an event not be missed. Perhaps it will inspire you to explore bear communities closer to home. Spread the magic!

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Translated by: Poppy
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From April 16 to 25 the yearly opera and classical music Festtage festival will be held at the Staatsoper im Schiller Theatre in Berlin, which on this occasion will celebrate its 16 edition for the delight of lovers of opera and classical music in Europe and around the world.

This year it will count with two major releases: Alban Berg’s Wozzeck and Richard Wagner’s Walküre, produced by Andrea Breth and Cassier Guy. In addition to a stellar cast comprised of Nadja Michael, Trekel Romano, Irene Theorin, Anja Kampe, Simon O’Neill and René Pape.

Wozzeck is an opera in three acts, with music and libretto by the Austrian composer and member of the expressionist current, Alban Berg. Wozzeck was his first opera, premiered in Berlin in 1925, although there was only the orchestration of the first two acts. After his death in 1935, his wife Helen commissioned Friedrich Cerha to musicalize them, premiering the complete works in 1979 in Paris. This opera is considered one of the milestones of contemporary music. His musical work is considered one of the most interesting ones of the twentieth century.

Walküre, or Valkyrie, is the second of four operas of Der Ring des Nibelungen by German composer Richard Wagner. Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany in 1813 and was a musician, playwright, poet and essayist. His passion for literature and practicing music led him to create Der Ring des Nibelungen, a great work where the staging and dramatic texts are inspired by Norse mythology. The Valkyries represent the warrior maidens that protect from the stalking of the Nibelung at Valhalla, Germany Olympus. Daughters of the god Wotan and goddess Erda, Valkyries represent the imaginary love for culture and lands of Nordic countries. This opera was premiered at the Hoftheater or Court Theatre in Munich in 1870. Its dramatic, intense music has served in various films such as Apocalypse Now by Francis Ford Coppola.

Among the highlights of Festtage there is the famous Chinese pianist Lang Lang, who will perform the chamber music concert with the Berlin Philharmonic. Lang is one of the virtuosos pianists in contemporary music; he was born in Shenyang, China, in 1982. He began playing piano when 3 years old. At 5, he won the Shenyang Piano Competition. His consecration took place at age of 17, when he replaced emminent pianist Andre Watts playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, at the Ravinia Festival’s Century Gala. He has been regarded by critics as the greatest pianist of recent times. Besides music, Lang has devoted part of his time to work with young people and support UNICEF.

For further info: http://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en_EN/tickets_abo_festtagezyklus

Nancy Guzman

Loving music and being part of it is what Festtage in Berlin offers. So if you’re a music lover and you like the relaxed atmosphere of this festival, you can enjoy this wonderful proposal in one of the apartments in Berlin

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Translated by: Maria
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Música Juntos has devised a whole programme to accompany one of the most prestigious festivals in European music: Berlin’s Easter Festival. The festival will be taking place between 16th-25th April, at the Staatsoper Theatre, and the line up this year promises a top-quality event.

Easter time in Germany celebrates and remembers Eostre, the pagan goddess of spring and light, which symbolises the arrival of the new season, and fertility. The theme of fertility is also symbolised by the rabbit, and the new forms of life which mark the period of vitality and reproduction. This is an interesting approach to a festivity widely considered as religious, and represents the Nordic cultures, which suffer longer, more intense periods of cold climates. So this music festival has become a pretext for getting back outside, and shaking off winter – and having fun.

This year the Easter Festival is presenting Chinese pianist Lang Lang, who at 27 is considered one of the greatest musicians of recent years. Lang Lang, which in Chinese means “brilliant educated man” has just published his autobiography, in which he tells of the hardships suffered by his parents during the Cultural Revolution after they were sent to the countryside to work, in spite being professional musicians.

A child prodigy, at five years old, Lang Lang won his first piano competition, thanks mainly to the dedication of his father, a highly skilled violinist. The demands and pressure from his father put strain on the young musician, but a genuine talent and love for classical music helped Lang Lang overcome his difficulties and fears.

The stories of the young pianist are interesting – but also, his deft, dynamic piano playing has made classical music more popular amongst young people, with his concert crowd usually having an average age of 20, full of people who like their hip hop just as much as their Chopin.

Lang has played with the biggest orchestras in the world, including the Boston Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. According to the Times, his work has deemed him to be considered one of the 100 most influential people in the world – and in his home country, he is a hero, imitated by hundreds of children.

In his new album, Dreams of China, Lang mixes the sounds of classical piano with elements of oriental music. It has been well received, as a brilliant example of musical fusion of the east and west.

For more information http://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en_EN/tickets_abo_festtagezyklus

Nancy Guzman

To experience this great pianist and his music, you just need to go and celebrate Easter. Shake off winter and rent apartments in Berlin

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Translated by: Poppy
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