Classic meets club – Volume II

By Christina Janssen, 13.2.2025

A great time was had by all once again – at the second edition of “Lab Nights” in the Hydraulic Engineering Hall on 6 February 2025, when many guests followed the invitation jointly extended by h_da’s Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Faculty of Media. Mizuho Quaiser-Itakura, piano lecturer at Darmstadt Academy of Music and the University of Music Würzburg (HfM Würzburg), opened the classical part with a fabulous interpretation of Modest Mussorgski’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”. A virtuoso masterpiece to get a musical evening under way that had everything to offer – from the delicate sound of the harp to the husky saxophone and live electronics.

The first part of the evening featured three blocks, each lasting about 30 minutes. Following Mizuho Quaiser-Itakura on the piano, the internationally renowned harpist Miroslava Stareychinska delighted the audience with her jazz improvisations – a genre that only few people associate with this instrument – and in a duet with Volker Kehl (on percussion) from the Lab Nights team. It was a highlight of the evening. The duet Sergey Korolev (piano) and Asia Safikhanova (flute) then presented a programme ranging from classical music to disco tunes on the flute.

All pictures: Hans-Peter Schmal

It was saxophonist Denise Frey from Darmstadt who then successfully made the transition to club culture: the guests were carried away by her catchy improvisations on the soprano saxophone with live electronics. The deep bass grooves she produced with her instrument put the dance enthusiasts in the audience in the right mood for the last part of the evening – the party with DJs Henning Weik and Steffen Grimm.

Students from the Sound, Music and Production degree programme made sure the sound was right. Between the three blocks – and during them, as a “stiff” concert atmosphere was not what it was all about – the team of students volunteering in the “wasserBARhalle” took care of the catering. There was lively exchange among the guests and, like at the first event, everyone was inspired by the partly unusual sounds and interpretations. The eight-strong team responsible for organising the event, led by Professor Arne Speer, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Martin Weber, research associate at the Hydraulic Engineering Hall, was delighted with the response and the tremendous commitment of all those involved. To be continued!