6 January 2026

Photo: ewboard.blogs.uni-hamburg.de

As part of the “Hamburger Horizonte” event series on water, the Ligeti Center hosted a special event called “Rain on the horizon” on October 16, 2025 that showcased the remarkable potential of a symbiotic relationship between art and science, and left attendees inspired and engaged. The event brought together scientists, artists, and the public to explore the multifaceted nature of (rain) water through an innovative blend of scientific discussion and artistic expression.

A key component of the evening was a lecture by Dr. Malte von Szombathely titled "Water from Four Sides - A Risk Assessment for Hamburg". The presentation addressed Hamburg's increasing vulnerability to heavy rainfall and flash floods. As part of an initiative by the University of Hamburg's Excellence Cluster "Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS)", Malte von Szombathely discussed how extreme weather events threaten the city's population. The talk explored risks, resilience strategies, and the importance of long-term planning to enhance Hamburg's sustainability and disaster preparedness.

In addition to Malte von Szombathely's enlightening lecture on the risks of heavy precipitation for Hamburg's residents, the audience also witnessed captivating performances over the course of the evening inspired by water and weather phenomena, and participated in interactive discussions that fostered dialogue across disciplines. The diverse program enabled visitors to gain new perspectives on a natural phenomenon that affects everyone's daily lives.

The program featured a multimedia performance titled "Holy Water," which served as a ritualistic reflection on water's dual role as life-giving and destructive force. Water shapes both the living and non-living worlds, permeates matter and spirit, and flows with persistent quiet strength. As a hyperobject, water can only be perceived in fragments, and the artists aimed to capture its immense and transcendent nature through this multimedia ritual. The performance was led by Candid Rütter, a Hamburg-based sound artist and multimedia composer. and Lisa Kereselidze, a lyrical soprano from Tbilisi, Georgia.

Adding a musical dimension, the event also featured a multimedia concert titled *"Summer 2021"* by composer Georg Hajdu. This piece reflects on climate change, combining nature recordings with instrumental effects, culminating in a fragmentation of the classic 60s song *"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head."* Hajdu, based in Hamburg, is renowned for his work in generative music, collaborative performances, and multimedia compositions.