Thousands of people view the light installation »Breaking Waves«

On Thursday evening, thousands of people gathered in the Port of Hamburg to see the light installation »Breaking Waves« around the Elbphilharmonie by the Dutch artist duo DRIFT. Hundreds of illuminated drones danced around the iconic concert hall following the opening concert of the Hamburg International Music Festival with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and Joseph Haydn’s »Creation«. Boat tour companies put on special night trips on the Elbe River for the event. The installation can be viewed here.

Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta of the artist duo DRIFT have created an artwork that makes the striking exterior of the Elbphilharmonie shine in a new light. With the choreography of the swarm of drones around the Elbphilharmonie, DRIFT seeks to establish a connection between the movement of the river water and the sounds inside the concert hall. »The work is a conversation between the building and the moving light drones. It is an attempt to build a moment of connection between humans, machine and the environment« says Lonneke Gordijn. The artists drew inspiration for the light installation, which was originally planned for the Elbphilharmonie’s fifth birthday, from the second movement of the Piano Concerto by Thomas Adès, the central piece in the anniversary concert on 11 January. »Breaking Waves« was planned in close coordination with the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, which is dedicating a four-month solo exhibition to the artist duo. The exhibition is running until 8 May 2022 (»DRIFT: Moments of Connection«).

The second concert with Joseph Haydn’s oratorio »The Creation« on 29 April will be broadcast live in the Elbphilharmonie Mediatheque. Alan Gilbert will conduct the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. The soloists are Christina Landshamer (soprano), Benjamin Hulett (tenor), and Benjamin Appl (baritone). They are joined by the NDR Vokalensemble and the WDR Rundfunkchor.

Christoph Lieben-Seutter, General and Artistic Director of the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle Hamburg: »We are delighted that, thanks to the good weather, far more people had the opportunity to participate in this extraordinary project than would have been the case on the originally scheduled date in January. I viewed the light installation from the water yesterday – it was a great thrill to see the Elbphilharmonie staged in such a spectacular manner. I would like to thank everyone involved for the successful cooperation.«

Dr Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media: »With Breaking Waves, the internationally renowned artist duo Studio Drift has created an impressive installation that blends music and visual arts, nature and technology, concert hall and the Elbe, to create one total work of art. Breaking Waves seizes on the Elbphilharmonie’s unique location in an inspired way and makes us aware of the world’s fragility and beauty. It is the result of creative collaboration in the cultural city of Hamburg. With Breaking Waves, Hamburg is sending an unforgettable image out to the world, which is also a warm invitation to come and experience the cultural city of Hamburg in all its diversity in person.«

»Breaking Waves« was planned in close coordination with the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, which is dedicating a four-month solo exhibition to the artist duo. The exhibition is running until 8 May 2022 (»DRIFT: Moments of Connection«).

The installation is supported by Freundeskreis Elbphilharmonie + Laeiszhalle e.V. First and foremost, the Freundeskreis supports musical projects in the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle, and facilitates active participation in concert life for its members.

»Breaking Waves« is also organised in cooperation with Superblue.

UPDATE, 29 April 2022, 6pm:

The performances of the light installation »Breaking Waves« announced for today as well as Saturday and Sunday unfortunately have to be cancelled at short notice in coordination with the air safety authorities of Hamburg and Lower Saxony. During the dress rehearsal as well as during the premiere on Thursday, the artwork was massively disturbed by unauthorized high-speed drones. This resulted in several collisions and subsequent crashes. According to the air safety authorities, air traffic disruptions of this intensity and aggressiveness have never occurred in Germany before. This calls for a reassessment of the security situation. Since it cannot be ruled out that such crimes by anonymous drone pilots will occur again today and in the following days, a continuation of »Breaking Waves« is not possible in order to protect spectators and employees. The responsible persons of the Elbphilharmonie was well as the artists of DRIFT are sad and frustrated that they have to cancel the performances of the light installation, which already thrilled thousands of spectators at the premiere.