Screen & Score: E.T.A. Hoffmann - The Sandman

The story *The Sandman*, written in 1815, is one of the most eerie works of poetry by the satirical Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann. Its masterful interplay of shifting perspectives, alienation, and enigmatic elements reflects the philosophical and psychological themes of the era, elevating them to a timeless realm through sharp irony. It stands to reason to combine the work with images and new media—and with music, since the universal genius Hoffmann was also a significant composer of the early Romantic period and a highly gifted draftsman to boot. This time, the images are created live and on the computer; the sounds for saxophone and piano are from our time and span a range from very Hoffmann-esque nocturnes to the promise of a sunrise. Judit Varga from Hungary and the Austrian Gerald Resch are among the established composers of today, while the Portuguese Nuno Lobo and the Dutch Bianca Bongers successfully represent the younger generation. The Tyrolean saxophonist Andreas Mader and his piano partner Christos Papandreopoulos are already well-known on the international music scene as a young duo.