On Saturday, October 17, 2026, the Audiolodge recording studio in Schwanfeld will host a special live premiere: BARNSEN will present “The Carnival of the Animals,” the new orchestral instrumental project by Schweinfurt-based musician Bernhard Wegner-Schmidt. Just one day after the album’s release on vinyl and all major streaming platforms, the work will be performed live for the first time—right at the same place where it was created: at the Audiolodge in Schwanfeld, Am Weiherlein 1. “The Carnival of the Animals” comprises 13 independent compositions, each of which is dedicated to an animal. Inspired by the concept of the famous work by Camille Saint-Saëns, Bernhard Wegner-Schmidt has created a completely entirely independent, contemporary musical universe. At times powerful and rhythmic, at times atmospheric and almost ethereal, the music moves between orchestral film scores, classical music, and a subtle dash of rock. Strings and wind instruments meet the piano, percussion, bass, guitars, and glockenspiel. Strings and winds meet piano, drums, bass, guitars, and glockenspiel. The result is musical scenes, characters, and landscapes that you don’t just hear—you can almost see them right before your eyes. The first singles and excerpts from the album production have already found their way to stations such as Bayern 2, Radio Gong, and Deutschlandfunk Kultur. For the premiere, “The Carnival of the Animals” will be performed live by a 16-piece ensemble. The lineup includes Jazz Award winner Anton Mangold, pianist Werner Goldbach, the string quartet Four4Strings, and musicians from the Schweinfurt Wind Philharmonic. An extraordinary ensemble for a work that deliberately crosses the boundaries between concert music, the modern orchestral soundscape, and contemporary instrumental music. The entire concert evening will also be recorded on video and audio.
For more information, tickets and last-minute changes, visit the event page.
