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Saturday, 5 September 2026: Sketchcrawl Basel at a Singspiel rehearsal
Photo: The Erlacherhof without the set for the production
We have been invited to sketch during the rehearsal of the Singspiel *Die Fischerin* (1782) by Corona Schr?ter and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It will be accompanied by guitar and harpsichord. A small ad hoc ensemble has enthusiastically set about breathing life into these songs at selected locations where Goethe once stayed. Anyone who wishes to do so can also sketch during the performance in the evening.
1. Rehearsal
We?ll meet at the Erlacherhof in St. Johann, which Goethe visited twice. This is where some of the rehearsals will take place, as well as the final act of the performance in the evening. Although we?ll be sketching against a stylish backdrop, the songs only last a few minutes, so the performers will be changing positions frequently. This makes sketching quite challenging.
Meeting point
3.00 pm Erlacherhof, St. Johanns-Vorstadt 17 (in the courtyard), Basel
Duration until approx. 5.00 pm, followed by a look at our sketches
2. Performance
The Singspiel will be performed from 8.00 pm until around 9.00 pm and takes the form of a promenade from St. Johanns-Rheinweg via various stops in St. Johann to the Erlacherhof, where, amongst other things, the first musical setting of Goethe?s *Erlk?nig* will be performed. On the Rhine, weidling boatmen will be incorporated into the proceedings. At around 8.30 pm, dusk will slowly begin to fall and the finale of the performance will take place in the evening atmosphere by candlelight.
If you?d like to sketch during the performance, you could head to the first station on your own as soon as the concert begins at 8.00 pm. This is in a different location to the meeting point for concert-goers, so you?ll have time to settle in and sketch the first scene. Please send me a brief email to herrat-usk@bluewin.ch, and I?ll send you the location of the first station and put you in touch with the artistic director, Helena Langewitz, so that you can be added to the guest list.
The ensemble is very keen to receive sketches from the rehearsal or performance, especially as Goethe himself also used to draw. I would then organise this for you. Please send me a sketch in high-resolution image format to my email address given above. The quality of the sketch doesn?t matter. Even if you attend the performance, you are free to decide whether or not you wish to give any sketches to the organisers.