Never mind 2016, there's lots to look forward to next year: Read on for our exclusive Cultural Heart of Germany 2017 event preview, featuring grand openings, big anniversaries and stunning exhibitions in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

Pencil in Dresden for …

… the reopening of the Kulturpalast (Palace of Culture) on 28 April:

After three and a half years of construction work the city's Kulturpalast will reopen as a major performance platform and with a new concert hall at its centre. Kulturpalast will also be the new home for three prestigious cultural institutions all under one roof: Dresdner Philharmonie (Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra), the Herkuleskeule political cabaret and Städtische Zentralbibliothek (Central Municipal Library).

… the 40th anniversary of Dresden Music Festival, 18 May to 18 June:

The festival's programme is second to none in its variety and quality, featuring anything from concerts by acclaimed orchestras and chamber music to performances by top international soloists. Under artistic director Jan Vogler, Dresden Music Festival has grown to reflect the city's cosmopolitan, diverse and vibrant cultural outlook and visitors particularly delight in the festival's beautiful venues across town, including churches, museums and palaces. www.musikfestspiele.com

Head to Leipzig for ….

… the new stunning 360° panorama in the city's Panometer, opening on 28 January:

Artist Yadegar Asisi's latest panorama project “Titanic” takes visitors straight to the ocean liner's watery grave at 3,800 metres below the surface. The enormous wraparound, walkaround painting in a former gasometer is the ultimate immersive experience. Expect to have your mind blown by the attention to detail and realistic simulation on a 1:1 scale. www.asisi.de

Enjoy the best of Baroque in Thuringia ...

... where the Bach Festival features the genius composer and more from 7 April to 1 May:

Johann Sebastian Bach's great church music compositions go hand in hand with the Reformation, celebrating its 500th anniversary in 2017. Next year's Thuringia Bach Festival will therefore culminate in a special four-day music festival honouring Martin Luther with concerts in Eisenach that highlight how the Reformation and music interacted. For the opening on 8th April, the UK's “Solomon's Knot Baroque Collective“ will perform Bach's masterpiece St John Passion in Arnstadt's Bach Church. Full programme on www.thueringer-bachwochen.de

Visit Germany's most famous castles for ...

... the one-off “Luther and the Germans“ exhibition, Wartburg Castle, 4 May to 5 Nov:

There's no better venue than the UNESCO World Heritage Site towering above Eisenach for the special “Luther and the Germans“ exhibition commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German, thereby laying the foundations for a standardised written German language, is the most visited Luther site in the world and the exhibition will focus on how every era of German history has formed its own unique picture of the Reformer. More information

Join in the Liszt Biennale festivities ...

... celebrating the legacy of a world-class composer in Thuringia, 31 May to 5 June:

During his time as Hofkapellmeister in Weimar, the Hungarian composer had his most productive years, writing, amongst others, his Hungarian Rhapsodies. Headlined “Role Plays“, the second edition of the Liszt Biennale will celebrate his work with concerts throughout Thuringia, including in stunning venues such as St Mary's Cathedral in Erfurt, Friedenstein Palace in Gotha or Eisenach's Wartburg. More information on www.visit-thuringia.com

Go back 500 years in Saxony-Anhalt ...

... to immerse youself in the year of the Reformation in Lutherstadt Wittenberg:

As a highlight of the Luther Year 2017, Yadegar Asisi's “Luther 1517“ panorama tells the story of the Reformation in Wittenberg when Martin Luther published his 95 Theses. Years of work went into the painstaking recreation of the Medieval town, based on 50,000 sketches, photos and drawings, and a building was specifically erected for the 15 x 75 metre 360° panorama work. www.asisi.de

Explore Lutherstadt Wittenberg's double exhibition ...

... for unique insights into Martin Luther's life and work, 13 May to 5 Nov:

Staged in two venues, the Augusteum and the Luther House, this special “Luther! 95 People - 95 Treasures" exhibition highlights the Reformer's place in history and brings alive the events of the Reformation: The first part introduces "95 people" whose lives have been influenced by Martin Luther, while the second part takes a closer look at "95 treasures" that are directly related to the Reformer. Among the valuable items on loan from Germany and around the world are his personal bible or an up to know unknown portrait by Cranach. www.visit-luther.de

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Kurt Weill Festival …

…with 17 days of concerts, events and exhibitions in Saxony-Anhalt, 24 Feb to 12 March:

Honouring the Dessau-born “Mack the Knife“ composer Kurt Weill, this festival has been delighting audiences for decades now. In its 25th edition, it puts on 60 events in 26 venues throughout Saxony-Anhalt, including political opera “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” in Halle and a big anniversary gala focussing on Berlin, Paris and New York as the three cities defining Weill's musical life. www.kurt-weill-fest.de

Note to the Editor

The Cultural Heart of Germany, www.cultural-heart-of-germany.com, is a tourism initiative of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt & Thuringia Tourism. The neighbouring states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia feature a unique cultural heritage and rich musical tradition that the Cultural Heart of Germany promotes in the UK.

Travel information:

Easy access to the Cultural Heart of Germany: Ryanair to Leipzig and all major airlines to Berlin.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CulturalHeartofGermany

Twitter: www.twitter.com/CulturalGermany

For press and image enquiries please contact:

B Connects. Barbara Geier Content Services

On behalf of Cultural Heart of Germany (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia)

barbara@bconnects.net, phone 07983 242 195