A Bolivian orchestra has been stranded in a “haunted” German castle since March 10th after borders were closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As BBC report, the Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos were in Germany to perform a series of three concerts and tour the city in a trip scheduled to last just over two weeks. The musicians —some of whom are only 17 years old— arrive in Germany just as the coronavirus pandemic was intensifying.
Unfortunately, the Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos never saw the stage, as the Berlin region of Germany announced bans on large gatherings of people as they landed in the country.
Since the lockdown, the Bolivian Orchestra has been isolating at the Rheinbserg Palace — a 600-year-old castle an hour and a half northwest of Berlin.
“Our bus broke down on the motorway. I remember joking that this was bad luck and perhaps our concerts would be cancelled. But never did I think it would actually happen,” a member named Carlos told BBC.
The estate has a rich history dating back to the 1500s. Many German royals, including Frederick the Great, inhibited the castle. It was first built in the 1560s, before it was purchased by Prussian king Frederick William, who gifter it tow his son, crown prince Frederick II, later Frederick the Great — who spent four years at the castle before taking the thrown. Side note: Fred is not a good enough name to warrant a namesake.
During Frederick’s time spent at the castle, he hosted opulent parties that boasted performances with some of the most revered musicians of the day. J.C. Bach, son of J.S., is reported to have performed.
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Members of the orchestra have joked that they feel the spirit of Frederick in the walls.
“We all joke that Frederick’s ghost is following us and trying to trip us up. I don’t usually believe in such things but it does feel as if there are ghosts on the grounds,” shared 20-year-old Camed Martela.
The group has reported that the ghosts are all, thankfully, music fans — so they were able to perform to a captive audience after all. The medieval mansion is a moated castle that, is surrounded by “23 packs of wolves.” One member, Tracy Prado, recently saw three of the wolves whilst going for a walk. “I froze in fear but they were just play fighting and moved on,” she said.
The town of Rheinsberg has been accommodating towards the orchestra, who have been socially distancing at the castle grounds. Kitchen employees drop off food for the guests and people have donated clothes to the group. Obsessed with the image of Berlin goths donating well-worn rave wear to this extremely wholesome-looking orchestra.
MaerzMusik, the festival that the orchestra were slated to perform perform, has helped raise funds for the group. Director Berno Odo told the BBC that the accommodation costs are as high as $38,400 a month.
Members of the group have been able to communicate with their family in Bolivia, but have emphasised that their Medieval getaway is nothing like a vacation.
“People back home think we’re in a fairytale land. I’ve had hundreds of messages telling me to stop complaining, and that I’m living like a princess in a German castle,” Carlos said. “We feel abandoned.”
The Bolivian embassy reports they are working to get to the orchestra on a flight home out of Madrid in early June.
Members of the group are feeling trepidation about returning to their hometown, as the Bolivian government is teetering on the edge of turmoil after a delayed presidential election that was scheduled to take place in March.
“Covid is getting very political back home,” says Carlos. “I’m dreaming of the day I will be at my bed in Bolivia and say, ‘OK, this is over’ but I also know that on that day I will start missing what is happening here.”
