Entertaining and productive results of diplomacy in action
German missions in Kingdom hold a range of activities aimed at encouraging outreach to Saudi society
Workshop for Saudi singers
In October 2018, the German Embassy in Riyadh organized an a capella workshop featuring three singers and music teachers: Gregor Praetorius, Steve Kuechler and Johann Beger, who studied music education and perform as an a capella Group Die Kinder vom See (the children of the lake).
They come from Halle, a city with a long tradition of choral music, and were keen to share their love of unaccompanied singing with young Saudis. During the two-day workshop, at the Goethe Institute in Riyadh, they demonstrated the techniques of a capella singing to the participants, who were all self-taught Saudi music enthusiasts. The following day, the Saudis showed off their newly acquired skills during a concert at the German Embassy.
Open stage for musicians
An enthusiastic audience of young Saudi musicians, artists and music lovers, gathered to perform during an “open stage” event in November 2018, at the German Embassy in Riyadh, in front of an international audience. The evening concluded with some rock music from Madani Band, and improvisation by Salih and friends.
Winter Journey
In December 2018, the German Missions in Saudi Arabia staged “Winterreise” (Winter Journey) by Franz Schubert, a selection of German poems augmented by a dramatic declamation in Arabic in the storytelling tradition. The Münster-based Debussy Trio toured Jeddah, Thuwall and Riyadh with the show. The trio also commemorated the centenary of the death of composer Claude Debussy and the end of World War I.
Business delegation
In January 2019 a business delegation from the German-Arab Chamber of Commerce visited Riyadh and Dammam. It was headed by Dr. Peter Ramsauer, a member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) and president of the Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The delegates met Minister for Transport Dr. Nabeel Al-Amoudi, the Saudi-German friendship group of the Shoura Council, and Vice Minister for Industry Abdulaziz Al-Abdulkarim.