Saunders: Yes / Ensemble Musikfabrik
Portrait Rebecca Saunders
What happens when you fall asleep
The moment we fall asleep fascinated the author James Joyce so much that he dedicated what is probably the most famous nocturnal monologue in literary history to the subject. Molly Bloom, a character in the novel »Ulysses«, fabulates drowsily about her life, sexual freedom, grief and the beauty of nature. The British composer Rebecca Saunders has turned this magical moment into music. Her work »Yes« wavers between sleep and wakefulness – with Bloom’s words and the somnambulistic sounds of Ensemble Musikfabrik.
»Yes«, which opens the Elbphilharmonie’s Rebecca Saunders spotlight, features 19 soloists and one singer. The musicians breathe and whisper words from Molly Bloom’s monologue, scattering sonorous fragments of memory around the space. »Memories take on temporary form, only to sink back into the river of time«, says Saunders. Music »like a giant mobile« gliding into the world of the night.
Programme (booklet)
Audio introduction
Performers
Ensemble Musikfabrik
Juliet Fraser soprano
conductor Enno Poppe
Paul Jeukendrup sound
Programme
Rebecca Saunders
Yes / A spatial performance for soprano, 19 soloists and conductor – Text from Molly Bloom’s soliloquy in the final chapter of »Ulysses« by James Joyce
Estimated end time
21:30
Promoter: HamburgMusik
Supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation
Location
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Elbphilharmonie
Großer Saal
Heart of the Elbphilharmonie: the Grand Hall seats 2,100 guests in the »vineyard« style. The stage for artists and orchestras is situated at the centre of the concert hall and is surrounded by terraced seating.
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Arrival time
The Elbphilharmonie is a special building situated in a special place. Allow for plenty of time for getting to the Elbphilharmonie and the way to the concert area. We suggest visitors arrive at the Elbphilharmonie Plaza not later than 30 minutes before the start of the concert or event. Late seating is not guaranteed and latecomers may not be admitted to the concert hall.
Concert tickets for the Grand and Recital Halls authorise a visit to the Plaza from two hours before the start of the concert or event. Visitors to the Kaistudios require a separate Plaza ticket to visit the Plaza.
Admission times:
Events without pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 60 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 30 minutes before the start of the eventEvents with pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 90 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 15 minutes before the start of the talkIf a pre-concert talk is offered for this event, it is noted above under PROGRAMME.
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Finding your seat
All visitors enter the building via the main entrance; access to the concert hall is via the »Plaza«, the viewing platform on the 8th floor of the Elbphilharmonie. The Plaza can be reached from the entrance area via the long escalator. Your tickets will be checked twice, at the access control in the entrance area and on the Plaza in front of the staircase to the Great Hall.
The hall entrances are on floors 12, 13, 15 and 16.
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Cloakroom
The cloakrooms are located on the 11th floor. Bags of A3 size or larger, rucksacks and luggage must be handed in at the cloakroom (fee: € 2), jackets may be taken into the hall. For valuables and larger luggage, lockers are available on the ground floor – before the access control – in the corridor to the right of the escalator..
Wheeled walkers can be stored at the hall entrances. Prams can be left with the service personnel on the Plaza.
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Toilet Facilities
The central toilet facility is located on the 13th floor of the Grand Hall Foyer. Further facilities can be found on floors 11, 12 and 15.
Fully accessible toilets are located on floors 12 (north side) and 13 (right-hand side of the large bar). Our front-of-house staff is happy to assist you in this regard.
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Photography and video recordings
It is forbidden to take photographs or record videos during a concert or event. Video recordings and photography are permitted for private purposes only on the Plaza and in the foyers as well as before the start or following an event in the concert hall, provided that you respect the privacy of other visitors and do not interfere with regular business operations. Employees may not be photographed or filmed.
Photography, audio or video recordings of concerts and events are strictly prohibited.
Event-related video recordings or photographs for editorial or commercial purposes must be authorised by the Press Office of the Elbphilharmonie.
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Getting here
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
Platz der Deutschen Einheit
20457 HamburgThe Elbphilharmonie can be easily reached by bus, underground, bicycle and ferry.
The nearest stops include:
Underground line U3: Baumwall
Underground line U4: Überseequartier
Bus 2, 111: Am Kaiserkai (Elbphilharmonie)
Bus 6: Auf dem Sande (Speicherstadt)
Ferry 72 (from Landungsbrücken pier): »Elbphilharmonie« pier
StadtRAD (bicycle sharing system) stations: U Baumwall (Elbphilharmonie) and Am Kaiserkai / Großer GrasbrookMultistorey car park in the Elbphilharmonie (open 24/7, 435 parking spaces):
Please note that visitors to the Elbphilharmonie should use the entrance marked »Elbphilharmonie«. The entrance »Elbphilharmonie Hotel« is reserved for »The Westin Hamburg« hotel guests.Please find more information about prices and advance booking of the discounted flat rate on this page: arrival by car
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Toilet Facilities
Foyers
Toilet facilities are located in the foyer areas of each respective hall.
Grand Hall: The central toilet facility is located on the 13th floor of the Grand Hall Foyer. Further facilities can be found on floors 11, 12 and 15. Fully accessible toilets for persons with mobility disabilities are located on floors 12 and 13.
Recital Hall: Facilities for guests of the Recital Hall are located in the Recital Hall Foyer.
Kaistudio: Facilities for guests of the Kaistudio are located in the Kaistudio Foyer on the third floor.
Plaza
Free public toilets are located on the western tip of the Plaza, adjacent to the Elbphilharmonie Shop, and are accessible via stairs.
Main Entrance
Further toilets are located behind the ticket shop at the main entrance of the Elbphilharmonie.
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Accessibility
All halls and spaces are accessible for visitors with disabilities. More information at www.elbphilharmonie.de/en/accessibility.
Lifts to the Plaza are located in the tunnel on the right-hand side of the Tube (long escalator). From the Plaza, access to the Grand and Recital Hall foyers is via lifts, also located to the right. Please note: cloakrooms for visitors to the Grand Hall are only located on the 11th floor. From there, the upper floors can be accessed via further lifts.
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Coughing, clapping, chatting – Tips for your concert visit
A concert at the Elbphilharmonie is a unique experience for both audience and artists. Guests and musicians alike rave about the precise acoustics in the Grand Hall. You can hear every note, even from the highest balcony.
Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: even presumably quiet noises from the audience are clearly audible in the entire hall. We therefore ask our visitors to take the following recommendations into consideration: Tips for your concert visit

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