Sven Helbig w/ ensemble reflektor | Album premiere at Zionskirche / Sunday, 17.4.2022

German composer Sven Helbig, together with the award-winning ensemble reflektor, presents his new album “Skills” in Berlin’s Zionskirche. “Skills” is a thoughtful hymn to man’s ability to constantly reinvent himself, making it an ideal concert for Easter Sunday. The new programme is presented with electronics, 4 horns & strings and accompanied by the hypnotic visuals of Icelander Maní M. Sigfusson (Sigur Rós, Jóhann Jóhannsson).

Sven’s works have been performed by renowned artist like BBC Singers, Fauré Quartett, cellist Jan Vogler and conductor Kristjan Järvi. On stage, Sven performs live-electronics and percussion alongside the ensembles. Sven is a long time collaborator of Industrial-Metal band Rammstein and british Pop icons Pet Shop Boys. He orchestrated their ballet “The Most Incredible Thing”, premiered at Sadler’s Wells/London, as well as “A Man from the Future”, premiered at Royal Albert Hall/London. He hosts his weekly radio show “Schöne Töne” on Berlin’s Radio 1, celebrating music history and contemporary artists.

Helbig is a composer who fell in love with music as a kid through his self-made radios, parents’ vinyls and the local brass bands in his small East German home town. Electronic bricolage was his first passion and remained a creative element in Sven’s later orchestra and choral music. The self-taught composer’s acclaimed debut album Pocket Symphonies was released on the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label.

The Zionskirche is located at the top of Berlin’s highest natural hill, on the site of a former vineyard – Mount Zion in Berlin-Mitte. The siting of the church on a five-cornered plaza at the intersection of three streets was so important to architect August Orth that he opted not to build the choir in its usual position towards the east. Then as now, the 67m steeple served as a landmark and vantage point over the city.