Group photo of Opderschmelz representatives, including John Rech, Director of Opderschmelz (centre); Credit: Otilia Dragan/Chronicle.lu

Opderschmelz representatives presented the cultural centre’s autumn and winter programme during a press lunch on its premises in Dudelange on Wednesday 27 September 2023.

Opderschmelz cultural centre has a lineup of over 20 events planned, with regional and international artists alike. While the programme focuses on jazz and blues this season, the organisers expressed their desire to offer a varied and broad array of different artistic events (musical, literary, performing arts).

John Rech, Director of Opderschmelz, noted that the music and art industry changed a lot over the past four years and that he expects it will keep changing over the following two. “A lot hinges on the culture industry” he added, emphasising that one-third of the money invested into cultural events is injected back into the economy via hotels and other establishments.

Highlights include:

  • Be_Offline Love/Hate featuring Şeyda Kurt & Florence Sunnen on Thursday 5 October 2023. This is a literature presentation, debate and diversity with Şeyda Kurt, author of Radical Tenderness – Why Love is Political and experimental essay and bestseller Hate – On the Power of a Resistant Emotion (in German), and Luxembourgish author Florence Sunnen (in English), who published "Archetypes", a collection of 21 character portraits, with Zagava Publishing in 2019.
  • World Music shows include: Boubacar Traoré, an ambassador of modern Mandingo music joined by calabash player Babah Konéhat and harmonica player Vincent Bucher on Wednesday 11 October 2023 and an Italian folk-rock evening on Tuesday 24 October 2023 with the bands Nidi d'Arac and Modena City Ramblers, combining the melodies of Italian pizzica folk dance.
  • In the pop/rock genre, Dexys will present their new album “The Feminine Divine” and classics from their album “Too Rye Ay” such as Come On Eileen.
  • Jazz headliners include: Gerald Clayton Trio on Friday 20 October 2023, Italian duos Flavio Boltro and Fabio Giachino, as well as Gianluca Petrella and Pasquale Mirra on Thursday 26 October 2023. The Swiss jazz band Reto Weber Squeeze will also perform on Thursday 9 November 2023.
  • Some blues highlights are: an evening featuring three Luxembourgish bands, namely Benny and the Bugs, Krunnemécken and The Horse Blinders (launching their new CD) on Friday 27 October 2023. Furthermore, Crossborder Blues, warmly recommended by the organisers for blues enthusiasts, are expected to perform on 7 November 2023; Neal Black is also confirmed to play on Sunday 12 November 2023.
  • Other performance arts highlights are: Clementine, a dance show choreographed by Luxembourg-based Rhiannon Morgan, presenting a glance into digital love on Thursday 23 November 2023 and the international show Moving Shadows, with a Christmas-themed performance on Tuesday 12 December 2023.

More information regarding tickets and the detailed programme is available at: https://opderschmelz.lu/agenda.html.