If the philosophical question “Where is humankind’s journey headed?” is close to Nenzel’s heart, then he transformed this into a tense show: Act 1, entitled “A journey through our existence” was dedicated to life’s beginnings and Act 4 was entitled “Life”. “Very brave,” was one guest’s opinion after the two hour water, fire, laser and light show. In the finale, pictures were projected onto the walls of water showing streams of traffic and people like ants in huge cities depicting a vibrant life, which then changed to natural catastrophes, soldiers, a street in Aleppo, burial grounds, destruction and environmental damage.

They show what will happen to mankind if it continues to abuse the planet. To end, Nenzel shows a calm sea, parents with their children hand in hand on the beach and images of Gaia, mother earth. Nenzel was happy to accept positive feedback for his team after the show, saying: “You have to sensationalise, polarise, to get a message across.”

And if the world goes under, “Disco will live forever” according to the film “Studio 54”. And in the Kurpark, after the Bonn singer Ela T. had warmed up the audience from 6pm, came the sound of 40 years of disco. The second act (Rock/Pop Special 1976-2016) and Gloria Gaynor’s “I will survive” got the audience moving, as did “Le Freak c’est chic” and “Everybody dance now.” Act 3, “Lifestyle op Kölsch”, saw the Cologne legend Willi Millowitsch and Cologne dialect carnival music take the hearts of the public by storm.

Klangwelle is on today and 13 – 16 October at 8pm. Tickets and programme information are available at www.die-klangwelle.de

Orig. text: Marion Monreal. Translated by Kate Carey.