It seems that, ever since taking office, Donald Trump and his Republican administration have been continuously berating Europe. But now, a different kind of US representative is visiting Germany: the Orchestra NOW (TŌN), a graduate program of Bard College, in the state of New York. Directed by Leon Botstein, the ensemble is presenting works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Max Bruch. It is also delivering a clear message: culture and music are the true pillars of trans-Atlantic relations.

The trip to Germany is the orchestra's first overseas trip, and the high point is a concert on May 8 commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The performance, entitled "Grant Us Peace," is taking place in the Nuremberg Congress Hall — part of a monumental complex built by the Nazis as the site of their party rallies.

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