What happens when you swap the security of everyday life for the uncertainty of the North Atlantic? In his musical reading "Jan and the Sea", pianist and author Jan Simowitsch takes his audience on an extraordinary journey. Based on his book "Und der Wal spuckt mich aus" (And the Whale Spits Me Out), he talks about leaving his job, a lonely trip to the Faroe Islands and the strength that lies in letting go. An evening that feels like a breath of fresh air: sometimes melancholy and deep, sometimes humorous and always honest.
It was a decision that many only dare to make in silence: Jan Simowitsch, long-time director of the Pop Institute of the North Church, quit his permanent job, packed up his bike and tent and headed to where the wind dictates the rules - the Faroe Islands. In the middle of a stormy April, he searched for answers to life's big questions between rugged cliffs and lonely fjords.
In his program, Simowitsch interweaves this personal story with the biblical tale of Jonah, who also landed in the belly of the whale only to be spat out again transformed. But don't worry: you can't expect a dry sermon here, but a lively, North German travel experience. Simowitsch talks about the absurd comedy of camping in a hurricane, the overwhelming hospitality of the islanders and the feeling when the silence suddenly becomes loud.
The special thing about this evening: the words become one with the music. Jan Simowitsch is a virtuoso pianist who masterfully translates the mood of the north into sound. His own compositions on the piano are more than just accompaniment - they are the soundtrack to the readings. The melodies allow the audience to feel the vastness of the sea and give them space to indulge in their own thoughts.
"Jan and the Sea" is an invitation to everyone who longs for change, loves the sea or simply wants to experience an evening full of inspiration and top-class piano music. Come on board and let yourself be carried away by the story of a man who only found his inner peace in the storm.
