Words And Music Beyond The Lines.

Exploring a new perspective for the Lieder tradition, DIVAN OF SONG abandons the accustomed focus and reflects the changing cultural world order of our time. Presenting innovative concert programmes... inaugurating commissions for new song compositions... introducing new writings and poetry... inviting young talented artists... supporting neweditions, researches, meetings and discussions... In its unlimited diversity of activities, DIVAN OF SONG creates a rich bazaar of sounds, voices, works and ideas that inspire a new quality of intercultural discourse in the field of vocal music.

Burkhard Kehring

Burkhard Kehring founded Divan of Song in 2014, after touring the world as Lieder accompanist for more than two decades. A pianist, professor and scholar of global song repertoire, he constantly seeks to transcend traditional boundaries towards a new perspective for the Lied genre.One of his main goals is the exploration of song as a medium for the migration of ideas beyond languages and cultures. He draws inspiration from a wide circle of artistic partnerships, creating programmes together with internationally acclaimed singers and recitors, seeking also new collaborations with young vocal talents and contemporary composers from all continents.

Upcoming Events

Alpine Art Songs

September 5th 2026
Brunnen / CH Reformierte Kirche Ingenbohl-Brunnen Othmar Schoeck Festival

Artists

  • Alice Lackner (mezzo soprano)
  • Peter Schöne (baritone)
  • Burkhard Kehring (piano)
  • Hein Sauer (introduction)

Two Lieder cycles of the early 20th century in correspondence:

  • Ernst Krenek: Reisebuch aus den österreichischen Alpen (Krenek) op.62 / 1929
  • Othmar Schoeck: Wanderung im Gebirge (Lenau) op.45 / 1930
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Past Events

Klappholttaler Liederwochen 2026

July 12th 2026
Klappholttal / Sylt Akademie am Meer

Artists

  • Roman Trekel (baritone)
  • Danae Papamattheou-Matschke (violin)
  • Jóhann Kristinsson (baritone)
  • Rita Rolo Moraes (soprano)
  • Mariana Popova (piano)
  • João Sousa (piano)
  • Morgane Solignac (soprano)
  • Laetitia Dodé (piano)
  • Burkhard Kehring (piano)

Composers

  • Franz Schubert
  • Louis Spohr
  • Johannes Brahms
  • Hugo Wolf
  • Alma Mahler
  • Gustav Mahler
  • Richard Strauss
  • Max Reger
  • Claude Debussy
  • Maurice Ravel
  • Jules Massenet
  • Henri Duparc
  • Fernando Lopes-Graça
  • Jorge Croner de Vasconcellos
  • Xavier Montsalvatge
  • Luciano Berio

Languages

  • German
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Portugese
  • Italian

Feminale 2026 – Opening Night

April 23rd 2026
Hamburg HfMT Forum Feminale

Artists

  • Alina Wunderlin (soprano)
  • Burkhard Kehring (piano)
  • Harvestehude Chamber Choir (Edzard Burchards, conductor)
  • HfMT Chamber Choir (Cornelius Trantow, conductor)
  • a.o.

Composers

  • Dora Pejačević
  • Felicitas Kukuck
  • Barbara Strozzi
  • Hanna Havrylets
  • Iryna Aleksichuk
  • Eleanor Daley
  • Amy Beach
  • Maja Einfelde
  • Lili Boulanger
  • Kaija Saariaho
  • a.o.

Poets

  • Anna Ritter
  • Rainer Maria Rilke
  • Wilhelmine Wickenburg - Almásy
  • Paul Wilhelm
  • Karl Henckell
  • a.o.

Art around 1800 – Age of Revolutions

January 29th 2026
Werner-Otto-Saal Hamburger Kunsthalle

Artists

  • Rita Rolo Morais (soprano)
  • Anna Bottlinger (soprano)
  • Chen-Han Lin (countertenor)
  • Yi-Wen Chen (piano)
  • João Sousa (piano)
  • Prof. Dr. Ivana Rentsch (moderation)
  • Prof. Burkhard Kehring (concept)

Composers

  • Franz Schubert
  • Joseph Haydn
  • Shui-Long Ma
  • Nan-Chang Chien

Poets

  • Ossian / Macpherson
  • Hunter
  • Müller
  • Rellstab
  • Xun
  • Xi

Languages

  • German
  • English
  • Chinese

A program inspired by exposed art works around 1800: European compositions from the 18th and early 19th century in correspondence with contemporary Taiwanese art songs.

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Blog

Composer Ye Shen about “Gogol”

Lyrics by: Tomas Tranströmer (1931 – 2015)
Translated by: BEI, Dao (1949 – )
Music by: SHEN, Ye (1977 – )

Language: Chinese

First performance: April 8, 2017 | Heidelberg, Germany
by Lini Gong, soprano | Burkhard Kehring, piano

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Lieder Landscapes

Burkhard Kehring has further refined his project Divan of Song for the 2017 Heidelberger Frühling. A conversation with the internationally renowned accompanist and professor of lieder performance and collaborative piano in Hamburg about leaving, returning and song.

[…]

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