About German Music in London
Who could forget Neil MacGregor’s appearance at last year’s festival? The internationally renowned cultural historian offered a distinctly British perspective on Germany, captivating the audience in the process. Of course, we invited him back right away—we simply had to, given this year’s “United Kingdom” theme at the Rheingau Music Festival. For the first time, its program will intersect with that of the Literature Festival, its “little sister,” as Neil MacGregor will share with us his great passion for German composers and the London church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Concerts featuring the music of Handel have a long tradition there, and the church is right next to the National Gallery, which MacGregor led for fifteen years. The perfect setting for a spectacular evening of storytelling.
Neil MacGregor was director of the National Gallery in London (1987–2002) and director of the British Museum (2003–2015). From 2015 to 2018, he served as artistic director of the Humboldt Forum in Berlin. In 2015, he was awarded the Goethe Medal and the German National Prize.
Program
Neil MacGregor in conversation with Andreas Platthaus