Entertainment

The people of Hanover simply called it “GOP”—their variety theater in the Georgspalast, where the great entertainers of the time once performed: Heinz Erhard, Zarah Leander, Vico Torriani, and Caterina Valente. When the theater reopened in 1992, the abbreviation became a brand name. Its proud tradition was carried into the present, forming the foundation of a modern variety theater. Today, GOP sets the benchmark for international variety entertainment and has become so successful that it now operates seven theaters across Germany. The family-run business has produced 300 shows so far, attracted 15 million spectators, and is a regular guest aboard the luxury cruise ship MS Europa. The fantastic shows Premiere and Highlights, created exclusively for the MS Europa, are hosted by moderator and entertainer Martin Quilitz. Not only was he one of the writers for The Harald Schmidt Show, but he also brings with him a wealth of experience from numerous TV and stage performances, appearances for the German federal government, major corporations, and of course, Germany’s renowned variety stages. Martin Quilitz is a true all-rounder in the field of intelligent entertainment—leaving no questions unanswered. Unless, of course, they are meant to remain that way. The show’s world-class lineup includes master juggler Phil Os, Samira Reddmann with her extraordinary contortion and hula hoop act, Francois Loooop with LED contact juggling, Annissa Elakel with elegant handstand acrobatics, and together with tricking artist Anssi Nurmi, the German-Finnish duo Noel with a remarkable partner acrobatics performance. Experience a thrilling mix of laughter, amazement, and excitement—at its finest!

Marc Secara studied Jazz and Pop Vocals at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin and received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. He made his major debut in 2006 with the Universal Records release “Strangers in the Night.” In addition to numerous CD and DVD productions, Secara has performed and composed for several major German feature films. For the 2016 Olympic Games, he recorded two tracks for the official ARD soundtrack together with the NDR Big Band. With his Berlin Jazz Orchestra, he has given hundreds of concerts in Germany’s most prestigious concert halls. Secara is recognized as one of the leading voices of contemporary German jazz and pop singing. He has appeared as a guest soloist with ensembles such as the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, HR Big Band, NDR Big Band, BBC Big Band, and the Filmorchester Babelsberg. Over the years, he has shared the stage with renowned artists including Thomas Quasthoff, Paul Kuhn, New York Voices, Alfred Biolek, Ack van Rooyen, Peter Kraus, Peter Herbolzheimer, Joja Wendt, Manfred Krug, Pe Werner, Patti Austin, Johnny Logan, and Jeff Cascaro, among many others. In 2013, Marc Secara was appointed Professor of Voice at the University of Popular Arts (hdpk) in Berlin.

Photocredit. G2-Baraniak

Bogdan Božović first appeared on the international music scene in 2012 as the violinist of the Vienna Piano Trio, with which he performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls. From 2015, he served as concertmaster of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra until he joined the Esbjerg Ensemble in Denmark in 2018. Since 2022, he has been the concertmaster of the Musikkollegium Winterthur, where he frequently takes on artistic leadership roles and performs as a soloist. Since 2022, he has also been the concertmaster of Ensemble Resonanz, the resident ensemble of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. His solo performances in the 2023/2024 season include tours featuring violin concertos by Bacewicz and Mozart.

A passionate chamber musician, Bogdan is a regular artist at Open Chamber Music Prussia Cove, the Saronic Chamber Music Festival, Festival Resonances, Musikdorf Ernen, and other festivals. He studied with Vesna Stanković in his hometown of Belgrade, with Klara Flieder at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and with Rainer Schmidt in Basel.

Rahel Cunz received her musical education from Rudolf Bamert in Zurich and Aida Stucki-Piraccini at the Zurich University of the Arts. These studies were further supplemented by participation in masterclasses with Joseph Gingold and Gérard Poulet in Greensboro, USA, Boris Belkin in Siena, and Rainer Kussmaul at the Carl Flesch Academy in Baden-Baden. Rahel Cunz won First Prizes at various competitions early in her career, including the Swiss Youth Music Competition and the Brahms Competition (Austria). She also received scholarships from the Migros Cooperative and the cultural foundations of the City and Canton of St. Gallen. Since 1994, Rahel Cunz has been the concertmaster of the Musikkollegium Winterthur. As a member of the Collegium Novum Zurich soloists' ensemble, she regularly collaborates with Heinz Holliger, Jörg Widmann, Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Pärt, Salvatore Sciarrino, and others. Several works by renowned composers have been dedicated to her, premiered by her, and recorded. Training gifted young violinists at the Winterthur Conservatory is another of her significant commitments. In addition to these activities, she has a versatile concert career as both a soloist and a chamber musician in various formations. She is one of the few violinists to include the monumental Violin Concerto by György Ligeti in her repertoire.

Vladimir Babeshko is an award-winning violist from Kazan, who regularly performs worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. In 2015, he premiered the viola concerto by Pierre-Dominique Ponnelle with the Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester Mannheim. He frequently collaborates with artists such as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Christoph Eschenbach, and Gidon Kremer, and has performed at festivals like the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Moritzburg Festival.

Since 2011, he has been a member of the "Mutter’s Virtuosi" ensemble. Since 2019, he has toured with Anne-Sophie Mutter's quartet, performing in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Elbphilharmonie. A highlight of the 2021/22 season was a benefit concert with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Munich Philharmonic, which was broadcast live on BR Klassik. Since 2022, Babeshko has been the solo violist of the Musikkollegium Winterthur. He plays a viola by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume from 1870.

Photocredit: Stephan Glathe

The internationally acclaimed Danish pianist Kristoffer Hyldig is a sought-after soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist. His latest recording of Messiaen's extensive piano work Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus has already received significant international praise and recognition from renowned media such as Gramophone Magazine and The Telegraph. His album was also awarded the prestigious Album of the Year 2023 by Danish Radio and was described by the Danish newspaper Politiken as the best album of the year. Together with his colleagues from the Messiaen Quartet Copenhagen, the Bornholm native leads the Chamber Music Festival in Båstad, one of Sweden's most historic festivals. He is also the artistic director of the Chamber Music Festival on the island of Fejø. His performances are regularly broadcast on Danish and Swedish radio, and more recently on BBC and Hungarian Radio Bartók.

Praised for her “passionate, convincing interpretations” (Frankfurter Zeitung), she has performed throughout Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. Born in Arkhangelsk, Russia, she studied in St. Petersburg, The Hague, Berlin, Lübeck, and Madrid, earning multiple degrees with distinction. As a soloist, she has appeared with orchestras such as the Württemberg Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, and North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. Her discography includes Ballets Russes (2018) with pianist Frank van de Laar and Esprit du Temps (2021), released on the TRPTK label. She made her recital debut at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam as part of the “Young Masters on Tour” series. Anastasia lives in Amsterdam and London, where she performs with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and regularly appears as principal cellist at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. She plays a 1710 cello by Dutch maker Rombouts and a French Sartory bow.