Europe's Essence: Søren Schauser on European Identity Through Music, Literature and Visual Art Across the Ages

Name: Europe's Essence: Søren Schauser on European Identity Through Music, Literature and Visual Art Across the Ages
Start: 2026-11-12T10:15:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-12T14:45:00+01:00
Location: Hovedbiblioteket i Aalborg

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 · 10:15 — 14:45

Hovedbiblioteket i Aalborg, Aalborg · 495 kr. · ≈ 66 €

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Europe's Essence: Søren Schauser on European Identity Through Music, Literature and Visual Art Across the Ages — Hovedbiblioteket i Aalborg, Aalborg

What truly binds Europe together? Philosopher and music historian Søren Schauser - known from 'Den klassiske musikquiz' on DR2 - pursues this question in a lecture where he seeks answers in art, music and literature from different periods. The trail leads from Charlemagne's throne through Renaissance visual art and on to Wagner's music dramas.

Schauser's core idea is that European identity rests on two things: a persistent openness to impulses from outside and an ability to transform these influences into theories and new thinking. Throughout, he uses contemporary images, texts and musical pieces to illuminate the decisive turning points in this history.

The day takes place in Folkestuen with the following programme:
• 10:15-12:00: Lecture
• 12:00-13:00: Sandwiches and coffee from The Daily Brew
• 13:00-14:45: Lecture

About the venue: Hovedbiblioteket i Aalborg

The main library on Rendsburggade serves as the central library for the entire North Jutland region and is the largest branch of Aalborg Libraries. Its collection spans books, films, music and games across multiple floors, with computers, meeting rooms and a lecture hall also available. The library regularly hosts talks, author visits, workshops and children's events.

Rendsburggade 2, 9000 Aalborg Get directions

About: Søren Schauser

A philosopher by training and a violinist by education, Søren Schauser lectures at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and ranks among Denmark's most sought-after communicators of classical music - familiar to many from DR2's 'Den klassiske musikquiz'.

13+

published books

2013

affiliated with the Royal Danish Academy of Music since

What's new

2026-04
Schauser gave a lecture on the symbolism of instruments at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in collaboration with Copenhagen Folk University on April 20, 2026.
2026-03
Schauser appeared as a lecturer at Sep Festival 2026, where he lectured on Mozart's opera Lucio Silla prior to an open rehearsal with the Danish Entertainment Orchestra and conductor Adam Fischer.
2026-03
Schauser held a knowledge brunch in Esbjerg on European DNA in art, music and literature for Folk University on March 12, 2026.

Tracks

Klassisk! Europæisk musikhistorie fra begyndelsen til 1900Standard work on European music history, published 2015

Moderne tider. Europæisk musikhistorie fra 1889 til anden verdenskrigContinuation of the music history series, published 2018

Tones drøm. En rejse gennem den klassiske musiks historiePopular science music history, published 2016

EgoEssay on the role of emotions in the debate on climate and identity, published 2020

Tankevandring. Hovedspor og genveje i filosofiens historiePopular science philosophy history published by Gyldendal

Europe's Essence: Søren Schauser on European Identity Through Music, Literature and Visual Art Across the Ages

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