Concert featuring works by Wang Xilin and Isang Yun, followed by a discussion with Wang Xilin about the documentary film “Man in Black” (2023) by Wang Bing

Organizer: KlangForum (external link), Confucius Institute at Heidelberg University (external link) & Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (State Academy of Baden-Württemberg) as well as Enjoy Jazz (external link)

October 11, 2024

The concert takes place as part of the “Freedom” Year of Science, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and as part of the “PERSPEKTIVE: FREEDOM” organized by the Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities. The Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (State Academy of Baden-Württemberg), in collaboration with member Prof. Dr. Barbara Mittler, is organizing a series of events under the title “From the Will to Freedom—China in a Global Context.” The concert is a collaboration between the Klangforum Heidelberg, the Confucius Institute at Heidelberg University, the university itself, and the Heidelberg Academy.

Isang YUN (1917–1995) is one of Korea’s most important classical composers. Tortured by the Japanese as a freedom fighter during World War II, he was abducted to Seoul by the South Korean secret service in 1967 and accused there of spying for North Korea. He was tortured again in prison. Intervention by the international music community prevented him from receiving a life sentence. WANG Xilin 王西麟 (*1936) is one of China’s most important modern classical composers. During the Cultural Revolution, he was subjected to severe persecution and had to endure beatings, imprisonment, and torture. His musical oeuvre reflects these experiences. Klangforum will frame a conversation with the Chinese composer—featuring the octets by WANG Xilin and Yisang YUN—to accompany the screening of the documentary film by WANG Bing 王兵 (*1967) *Man in Black* (2023). The film depicts the body and soul of a man scarred by a life of torture and suffering, yet still capable of deep and sincere compassion. Accompanied by the sounds of his music, he reflects on the terrible events that remain vivid in his memory as a testament to an (ongoing) era in which the entire Chinese nation was—and continues to be—dehumanized and deprived of all its freedoms.

Barbara Mittler

Notes:

In the current Athene Magazine (internal link), which was published in June on the topic of “Freedom,” there is a detailed article on the exhibition as well as on the Academy’s other events taking place as part of the Year of Science. 

The Years of Science (external link) are an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (external link) in collaboration with Science in Dialogue (external link). The Union (of the Academies) (external link) and its member academies regularly participate in the Science Years through various engagement formats.

Further information:

• About the 2024 Year of Science: "Freedom" (external link)
• Additional events organized by the science academies (external link) for the Year of Science “Freedom”