With the cello into outer space

A cellist and an astrophysicist: an unlikely combination for a concert discussion. Tanja Tetzlaff and Suzanna Randall want to talk about our planet, using words and music. We asked them how they envisage the evening at the Beethoven House in Bonn.

The title of your joint concert discussion is Sonata for Cello and Earth. What is behind it?

Tanja Tetzlaff: It’s a topic that has been close to my heart for decades and that worries me greatly: climate change. As a musician, I also feel I must speak out on this issue. How will we organise concerts in 50 years’ time when chaos is breaking out all around us? Our world is crumbling – we musicians must address these issues.

Suzanna Randall: This evening, we want to express the fear and hopelessness one can feel in the face of the climate crisis through music, and then discuss it. We hope to establish an emotional connection with the audience on this topic.

How did you come to collaborate?

Tanja Tetzlaff: I often perform in collaboration with scientists. They present the facts, and I provide the emotional context through my music, enabling the audience to absorb and understand these facts on an emotional level. In this case, Beethovenfest Bonn and I came up with the idea of collaborating with someone who views the Earth from a completely different perspective. When addressing the problems we have caused on Earth, it is crucial to consider the planet as a whole. This is precisely why we have enlisted the help of Suzanna Randall, an astrophysicist and astronaut in training. I am looking forward to broadening my horizons through conversation with her, as I know very little about space travel and the universe.

Suzanna, how would you describe your ›completely different‹ perspective on Earth?

Suzanna Randall: As an astrophysicist, I see Earth differently to how many people do. I see it as our little spaceship in the vastness of space. Compared to other celestial bodies, Earth is just a tiny, insignificant planet with a thin atmosphere. However, it is the only planet we know of where we can live. When people argue that we could simply move to a new planet, I can immediately refute that.

What would a cellist and an astrophysicist have to talk about? What are you curious about?

Suzanna Randall: I am naturally curious about music. I have listened to some of it, but not too much so as not to spoil it. Above all, I am looking forward to exciting conversations.

Tanja Tetzlaff: I am extremely curious to find out what motivates someone to explore the universe. I am very down-to-earth. I love nature. We should invest all our resources in creating conditions on Earth that work equally well for humans, animals, and plants. Looking up is only something I do when I gaze at the stars. I am interested in finding out why we should strive to go even further. How does space travel change our view of Earth? Is it worth conducting research in space when there are already so many problems down on Earth?

Suzanna Randall: These are some exciting questions that we will be discussing. For example, how does space travel fit in with ecological sustainability, and what is our stance on issues such as space tourism? In »Mission Homebound«, of which I am a member as a prospective astronaut, we consider these issues a lot. How can we minimise energy consumption? Can astronaut food be plant-based? Space travel is invaluable when it comes to climate research and climate change. We need this technology, such as satellite data. For example, it would be impossible to fight forest fires without it.

Tanja says that she doesn’t know much about space. Do you have any connection to music, Suzanna?

Suzanna Randall: Music has been important to me my whole life, especially in my free time. I enjoy playing the piano, but only at an amateur level. I used to play the flute in an orchestra and sang in choirs too. However, I don’t really have anything to do with music professionally – for a while, I hosted a podcast about music and neuroscience. Taking part in the concert discussion at Beethovenfest will be a first for me. That’s why I was very happy about this initiative.

Tanja Tetzlaff: Perhaps we have things in common on a metaphysical level. I make music and feel that it transcends the mundane. Suzanna Randall and I are, in a sense, reaching for the stars.

Is your message also reflected in the evening’s music programme?

Tanja Tetzlaff: The programme is not just for sitting back and relaxing; it is intended to stimulate reflection and shake things up. We begin with a Beethoven cello sonata that takes us through a range of intense emotions. Here, Beethoven does not come across as a strict classicist; his music is incredibly emotional. It’s a great sonata. The piece »Black Ice« by Thorsten Encke is specifically related to the theme of the concert discussion. This composition also features tape recordings of thunder, crashing and melting ice. It is a sombre and oppressive piece that culminates in the world slowly bleeding out. Encke finds a musical language to express the fear surrounding the precarious situation of humanity. Next, I will play a piece by a female composer, which is very important to me: Henriëtte Bosmans. She wrote an incredibly combative sonata. It contains a lot of dark energy, but also tenderness and a sense of dance. The selection of works is all about transferring energy to people and combining it with a call to action. Let’s all muster our energy to save the planet!