Culture

Can the music of Johann Sebastian Bach encourage dialogue? Absolutely, says Burkhard Jung, lord mayor of Leipzig and former president of Eurocities, a network of major European cities. In his opening address at the 2026 Leipzig Bachfest, he cited the fast-paced nature of our modern lives, where so much happens simultaneously. "The world is full of voices, but they don't really talk to one another," Jung emphasized. Bach's music is polyphonic; layers of distinct voices with their own melodies, all given equal importance as part of the piece as a whole. Sometime these voices take turns in a kind of question-and-answer interplay; sometimes they follow one another at intervals — as in a fugue — or they go their own melodic ways, only to come together again at the end. "In Bach's works, one ca...

Are we alone in this universe? Amid all the unanswered questions related to alien life, Steven Spielberg has more than any other filmmaker shaped the vision that humanity's first encounter with extraterrestrials could be a peaceful and profound experience — as opposed to a threatening invasion. Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) are iconic movies that fundamentally redefined the science fiction genre. Just like those films, "Disclosure Day" has been described by its lead star, Josh O'Connor, as "a film about hope and humanity and understanding," fitting right into the filmmaker's wondrous view on the phenomenon of extraterrestrial life. 'Overwhelming circumstantial evidence' In "Disclosure Day," O'Connor plays the role of a ...

Why is a sex doll in the German president's primary official seat? Set in a suggestive pose, the green bronze cast reproducing the torso of a Japanese sex doll has made headlines and grabbed attention on social media. The sculpture by Alexandra Bircken, titled "Eva," is just one exhibit among many more contemporary artworks that are on show in the highly symbolic political space associated with the German presidency and state ceremonies, Bellevue Palace. The two-week pop-up exhibition, titled "Freiraum Kunst" (Art as Free Space), runs from June 13-28. 'Eva' by Alexandra Bircken has sparked a conversation on how intimate themes also have a social and political relevance Image: Thomas Brinkmann"We need art," German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the press at a preview ahead of th...

Earlier this year, the Artis Zoo Museum in Amsterdam unveiled a handbag alongside a massive dinosaur skeleton — one made of "lab-grown T. rex leather." The highly publicized item was up for auction on Thursday. But it failed to sell. The Paris auction house Drouot noted that bids were well below expected. Auctioneers Giquello had touted the "one-of-a-kind" piece to sell for more than $500,000, but bids barely broke the $150,000 mark, according to the auction house.  With no precedent to go on, Alexandre Giquello, whose auction house organized the sale, told press agency AFP that they had to "come up with a price" that would reflect both the amount of investment required to create the bag and its rarity.  An experimental product Polish fashion label Enfin Leve designed the bag as part o...

David Hockney, who was one of Britain's favorite artists, a global celebrity, a world citizen and a bohemian, has "passed away peacefully at home" in London on Thursday, a month before his 89th birthday, his publicist Erica Bolton said in a statement to the press. Considered one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries, Hockney first gained acclaim as an important contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s.Hockney was renowned for his colorful paintingsImage: David Hockney Always wanting 'to see more' Born in Bradford in 1937, David Hockney was the fourth of five children. As a child, his favorite place was sitting at the front on the upper floor of a double-decker bus. From there, he had the best view of the city and its landscape. "I...

In Johann Sebastian Bach's repertoire, there are glorious cantatas with timpani and trumpets, as well as more emotional pieces that touch the heart. To find out which are the most beloved cantatas of the global Bach community, the Leipzig Bach Festival conducted a large-scale poll. The top 50 of this "Bach hit parade" will be performed by renowned ensembles at this year's Bach Festival, from June 11–21.  The Bach top 50 hit parade More than 7,000 Bach fans from 20 countries voted for their favorites from Johann Sebastian Bach's liturgical cantatas. Just like in the Eurovision Song Contest, they were able to award points: 12 points for their first choice, 10 for second place and so on. However, the final ranking will not be revealed until each concert. Artistic director Michael Maul only...

In Johann Sebastian Bach's repertoire, there are glorious cantatas with timpani and trumpets, as well as more emotional pieces that touch the heart. To find out which are the most beloved cantatas of the global Bach community, the Leipzig Bach Festival conducted a large-scale poll. The top 50 of this "Bach hit parade" will be performed by renowned ensembles at this year's Bach Festival, from June 11–21.  The Bach top 50 hit parade More than 7,000 Bach fans from 20 countries voted for their favorites from Johann Sebastian Bach's liturgical cantatas. Just like in the Eurovision Song Contest, they were able to award points: 12 points for their first choice, 10 for second place and so on. However, the final ranking will not be revealed until each concert. Artistic director Michael Maul only...