Exploring Germany | Brahms Museum, Hamburg Art Gallery, and a Magical Salute Salon Concert

Brahms Museum / Composer’s Street

In Hamburg’s charming west side, you’ll find magnificent churches and the serene Binnenalster Lake right in the heart of the city. This beautiful area was home to some of the greatest classical composers, like Gustav Mahler, Felix Mendelssohn, and Johannes Brahms, who found inspiration in every corner of this lively port city.

Imagine them riding their bikes through the streets, performing at churches, rushing to the opera house at sunset to conduct a new masterpiece, or stopping by the local market for fresh produce in the morning. In the evening, they’d relax by the sparkling lake, letting the moonlight inspire them to write beautiful music. Just picturing these scenes makes standing here feel like you’re breathing in pure romance!

Hamburg Kunsthalle

The Kunsthalle building itself feels like a piece of art, kind of like stumbling upon a magical castle in the middle of a city—so cool! I made a beeline for the gallery because I’m a huge fan of Paul Klee (1879-1940). His Color Theory is legendary, kind of like Da Vinci’s notebooks—it’s that impressive! Klee used color like a musician plays notes, creating harmonies on canvas, embracing abstraction with a playful, childlike touch. Unfortunately, the gallery only has one of his works, Goldfish, so I had to settle for a quick peek at his genius.

But then I was completely drawn to another painting—Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich, painted in 1817. It shows a man standing on a rock, back turned to us, gazing out at a misty, rolling sea. He looks so bold and confident! At a time when everyone was painting frontal or side portraits, having someone’s back to the viewer was such a daring move. Definitely made an impression!

Salut Salon Quartet

I first discovered these incredible women during my teen years while randomly browsing online, and they totally blew my mind! Each of them is a classical music expert with top-tier skills, but they twist traditional performances with humor, wild energy, and an infectious stage presence. Their concerts are so much fun to watch!

When I landed in Hamburg, I was thrilled to see their concert posters everywhere—from the airport to the city streets, every show sold out! They’re clearly a big deal here, so I immediately grabbed a ticket to see them live.

The group is still just as quirky and entertaining, but they’ve gone through so many lineup changes over the years. The concert had some German jokes and even random magic tricks thrown in between the music, and while they played some of the same classics I remember, the vibe between them wasn’t quite the same as before. But honestly, I didn’t mind—I wasn’t there for surprises, just for the nostalgia. I strolled into the concert hall, feeling the excitement of the local crowd, ready to enjoy a fun, laid-back evening with this unique quartet.

Here’s the video that first made me fall in love with their performances:

Wish you all the best,
Susu❤️