AGE ART – Science meets Beethoven

The "AGE ART" lecture series at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing combines art and science, and offers the unique collaboration of outstanding artists and scientists. It combines scientific lectures with musical performances, art exhibitions, theatre and film. On this evening we will combine the music of Beethoven and the biology of the internal clock under the title "The Circadian Symphony: a 24-hour clock in every body cell". The American pianist Hilda Huang will whisk us away to the soundscapes of the nature lover Beethoven. Huang is an internationally acclaimed artist who drew attention by winning first prize at the 2014 International Bach Competition in Leipzig. She is currently the only pianist to have won top prizes at all of the Bach competitions (Leipzig 2014, Würzburg 2010 and Tureck 2010). She will be touring Europe in 2020 with the "Beethoven@ 250" project and playing works by Beethoven, Bach and Messiaen. Ueli Schibler is a Swiss chronobiologist and professor at the University of Geneva. His research has made significant contributions to the field of chronobiology and understanding the body's internal clock. As with the conductor of a symphony orchestra, this clock ensures circadian organization of the body. He will address the following questions in his lecture: What is circadian rhythm and how does it relate to music? Does our efficiency depend on our circadian rhythm? How does our physical and emotional response to music vary in our daily rhythm?