A tribute to Matthias Maaß
On Friday, June 27, 2025, at 7 p.m., an extraordinary musical event will take place at Haus Cajeth: the premiere of the composition “New Pictures at an Exhibition” by Marco Hertenstein – a work that is closely linked to the artistic work of Matthias Maaß.
Marco Hertenstein
Hertenstein, a longtime companion and friend of the painter, drew inspiration for this composition from 27 of Maaß’s works – including paintings, grid images, daily works, and serial works. The result is a musical cycle loosely based on Modest Mussorgsky’s famous “Pictures at an Exhibition,” yet finding its own, contemporary approach to the connection between sound and image.
International artists interpret the work:
- Freddy Kempf – piano
- Alexander von Hagke – saxophone
Freddy Kempf & Alexander von Hagke
In addition to the saxophone, Alexander von Hagke is also a passionate clarinet and flute player. A recipient of a scholarship from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and the Bavarian Arts Prize, he studied music and mathematics in Munich and New York.
With his quartet “Passo Avanti,” he combines chamber music with jazz and improvisation and has performed at venues including the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Vienna Musikverein, and the Zurich Tonhalle. As a long-time member of Martin Grubinger’s ensemble “The Percussive Planet,” he has performed at venues including La Scala in Milan, the Elbphilharmonie, and the Berlin Waldbühne. With the heavy metal jazz band “Panzerballett,” he has toured Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the USA, Mexico, Armenia, France, Italy, and Belgium, and has played at Wacken Open Air, among others.
He has also played with the Berlin and Munich Philharmonic Orchestras, the Bavarian State Opera, the Munich Radio Orchestra, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz and the big bands of NDR and SWR.
Alexander von Hagke has released five CDs as a bandleader and composer. He is a principal teacher and lecturer for methodology, composition/arrangement, ear training, and ensemble at the Munich Vocational School of Music.
- Caroline Korn – Violin
- Manuela Weiss – Piano
- Thomas Matt – Tuba
The “New Pictures at an Exhibition” are designed for solo, duo, and trio ensembles and reflect the diversity and depth of Matthias Maaß’s visual work in musical form. Audiences can expect a moving evening that brings visual art and music into direct dialogue—emotionally, intellectually, and sensually.
The premiere is part of the current exhibition at Haus Cajeth, which can be seen from February 14 to July 3, 2025.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 11:00–17:00
Saturday: 12:00–17:00
We cordially invite you to this special concert evening in memory of an extraordinary artist and a lively friendship between painting and music.
Short biographies of Trio Ruscello members:
Manuela Weiss, born in Heidelberg, studied school music, piano, and conducting at the Heidelberg-Mannheim University of Music. In addition to her teaching work, she works freelance as a church musician and conductor and is a sought-after accompanist and chamber music partner. Her focus is on works by female composers and contemporary music, as well as literary and musical works and the development of synesthetic concert concepts, theme concerts, and children’s concerts.
Thomas Matt received his first tuba lessons at the Offenburg Municipal Music School.
After completing his preparatory studies at the Strasbourg Conservatory with Joseph Vaillant and completing his military service with the Army Music Corps in Koblenz, he began his studies at the Heidelberg-Mannheim University of Music with Jürgen Wirth in 1995. In 2000, he transferred to the Stuttgart University of Music to study with Stephan Heimann, where he graduated with distinction in 2001. After a temporary contract at the Mannheim National Theater and an internship at the Stuttgart State Opera, he has been the tuba player with the Heidelberg Philharmonic Orchestra since 2001.
Caroline Korn received her musical training at the Youth Music School in Wangen im Allgäu under Charlotte Hauser, Helga Lenz, and Prof. Paula Möckel-Dodez. After graduating from high school, she began her studies at the Heidelberg-Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts under Mechthild Böckheler, graduating in 1999 with diplomas in music teaching, orchestral music, and postgraduate studies in artistic education. Since 1996, Caroline Korn has been a member of the first violins of the Heidelberg Philharmonic Orchestra. She regularly performs as a soloist and in chamber music throughout the region. She has performed violin concertos by L. v. Beethoven, F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, J.S. Bach, and W.A. Mozart, among others.
Trio Ruscello
