Schön! alive 2 | urban heat

photography. Courtesy Azienda di Soggiorno e Turismo di Bolzano

Crowned as a UNESCO Creative City of Music since 2023, the sounds of Bolzano are best experienced in the echo of its concert halls, at late night orchestra rehearsals with Stadt Kapelle Bozen, or in the hallways of its world class music schools. The alpine city may be towered by the Dolomites, but at its very core lies a rich culture shaped by the arts. Schön! hopped on a direct flight from London on South Tyrol’s boutique airline, SkyAlps, to explore Bolzano through the musical fabric that makes it one of the most unique destinations in northern Italy.

photography. Tiberio Sorvillo

In Bolzano, the pride they have for their musical heritage is ubiquitous. If you stop by the Parkhotel Laurin for a drink, you’ll find jazz. And don’t be surprised if you hear concerts taking place everywhere from the local prison to retirement homes and kindergartens. The musical pulse of the city is fuelled by infrastructure that provides locals with the best in musical education. “It’s super important to still invest in classical music,” says Professor Philipp von Steinaecker. He was a student himself long before he became the Director of the Mahler Academy which nurtures young talent who want to become orchestra musicians. “The beauty in music is that you you take these pieces that were written maybe 200 years ago but you have to recreate them in the moment. So, it’s not like you press a button or you show a painting, actual people have to redo [it,]” he says.

Music becomes its own lingua franca in Bolzano, transcending the need for translation. “There was always strong interest in music because you can offer symphony orchestra concerts without doing one for the Italians and one for the German [speakers,]” Steinaecker explains. “You can also open to other countries very easily because it’s completely abstract. It’s just a sound but it speaks to you directly or it doesn’t…the first connection is always emotional and that’s always a great starting point.”

photography. Luca Guadagnino

Bolzano poetically embraces its Austrian-Italian roots and it shows in every aspect of the city from its architecture to its symphonies. “Music doesn’t have any borders. We play and stay together, we create community,” says Monica Loss, General Director of the Haydn Foundation, a non-profit that connects the languages and cultures that define Bolzano through music. From contemporary dance to orchestra and opera performances, they organise around 250 events throughout the year. “We want to create bridges,” Loss tells Schön! “Not only between the two provinces, but also at national and international level.”

The arts scene in Bolzano may be rooted in tradition, but its reputation for artistic excellence is also a hub for refreshing talent like Leonie Radine, curator at contemporary art museum, Museion, and Principal Conductor of the Haydn Orchestra Alessandro Bonato, who is a tour de force named as one of Forbes Italia’s Under 30 figures of arts and culture. Each are testament to the power of art in building community and connection across generations.

photography. Luca Guadagnino

photography. Courtesy of Azienda di Soggiorno e Turismo di Bolzano + Tiberio Sorvillo + Luca Guadagnino
words. Shama Nasinde

In Anyma‘s world, the dance floor becomes a living story. The Italian electronic artist, Matteo Milleri, has been revolutionising the techno scene for over 15 years by merging spectacle and storytelling with technology. His immersive live experiences have trailblazed a new dimension in the nightlife landscape through cinematic performances that guide revellers into a mythical space of soaring visuals, awe-inspiring locations and colossal stages, including Sphere in Las Vegas, making him the first DJ to headline the venue. 

Anyma first made his mark as one half of the duo Tale of Us, manifesting his vision through their epochal event series Afterlife. Simultaneously, he has cultivated an avant-garde niche defined by audiovisual experimentation using sound and AI. Now, the visionary is unveiling his Quantum era. If past chapters pushed the limits, Quantum shatters them and propels nightlife into realms unimagined. The live concept is a futuristic evolution of Anyma’s odyssey where theatrics, digital creatures and ethereal melodies collide.

And where better to reveal this new horizon than in a space engineered to expand the very boundaries of night culture? [UNVRS] Ibiza, the world’s first hyperclub, hosted Quantum this summer. Anyma’s eight-week long residency featured special guest appearances from the the likes of Travis Scott, Adriatique, Solomun and Amelie Lens. In an interview with Schön!, Anyma reflects on the experience and delves deep into the Quantum ethos. 

Congratulations on your Ibiza residency at [UNVRS]. How does it feel to bring your world to life in a venue that’s pushing the boundaries of nightlife?

Thank you. It’s pretty surreal. Ibiza has been a very special place throughout my life and career. Going into [UNVRS] allowed me to create something closer to the experience I’d always imagined. [It] felt like a natural extension of the world we’ve been building through music, visuals, and technology. 

How does a space like [UNVRS] allow you to fully express your creative vision?

[UNVRS] gives me the freedom to dissolve the line between reality and the digital realm. It’s a space built for transformation visually, sonically, and emotionally. Their technology allowed me to bring the show to life with the idea of a collective experience where the audience becomes part of the Quantum system, part of the story. Opening the shutters at sunrise every Tuesday was a personal highlight for me.

In your eyes, what does a futuristic venue like [UNVRS] indicate for the evolution of live music?

A venue like [UNVRS] signals a continued shift in how we experience music. I see it as the next step in the evolution of live music, a less linear experience, far more immersive.

You’ve launched your new era, Quantum, through this residency, what does it represent for you and how is it manifesting within these shows?

Quantum was a concept that I premiered at Sphere Las Vegas as the next chapter after the Genesys concept. Hence, why the show was called “The End Of Genesys.” This new Quantum idea is derived from quantum computing and breakthroughs in AI which I find deeply inspirational. Quantum is not just a show–it’s the evolution of the world I’ve been building. 

How would you describe the dimension you’re inviting people into when they experience Quantum for the first time?

When people experience Quantum for the first time, I want them to reimagine humanity and reality. More than anything, Quantum suggests a blend, an alliance, between the digital and the physical. Together with the audiovisual experience of this show, we are inviting the audience to experience a fractured perception of an alternative future reality.

The visual avatars in your shows have become part of your performance identity. What role do they play in the storytelling?

In the live show, they’re not just visual effects. They’re characters in an unfolding narrative that continues to evolve with each show and each body of music and art. By externalising these characters, we invite the audience not just as spectators, but as participants in the narrative.

How do you see AI-generated visuals shaping the trajectory of immersive shows and the live music experience?

In live music and story building, AI is efficient for creative manifestation and quickly moves ideas from concept to execution. As a tool, it can enhance the speed at which stories are visualised, but ultimately, an artist’s imagination and storytelling will remain the driving force. Nothing can replicate that.

You embody the intersection of music, art and technology, where do you find inspiration for the visual realm you’re building?

The visual realm I’ve been building is inspired by the tension between nature and technology. I am fascinated by the relationship that exists between these entities and I draw inspiration from science fiction, architecture, art, and nature. Collaborating with visual artists and machine intelligence allows our ideas to manifest in ways that feel alive, even sentient. The goal isn’t just to create something intriguing and beautiful, but an alternative reality that reflects our collective questions about what it means to be human in a post-human world. 

Baku sits at the crossroads of culture and that’s what makes the Azerbaijani capital so magical. Historically, the notoriously windy city has welcomed trade along the Silk Road, shaping its rich heritage, language and diverse architecture. Today, contemporary Baku continues to bridge both the east and west. In museums, the country’s vast history is told in intricate silk tapestries and at resorts like Sea Breeze, owned by recording artist EMIN, an annual music extravaganza called Dream Fest welcomed local and international stars like Nicole Scherzinger. The evening of fireworks and performance was followed by a pool side party at beach club YOLO, bringing the free-spirited air of Ibiza to the Caspian coast. 

Baku, Azerbaijan – May 6, 2024: The Crescent Development Project boasts modern architecture, notably the Crescent Hotel, against a beautiful sunset on the Caspian Sea coast

Just a drive away from the beachside waves at Sea Breeze, Baku lives between the contrasts of old and new. As you enter the city, you are welcomed by towering glass buildings. Home to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix every September, the city centre is incredibly clean and metropolitan, with Nizami street and Fountain Square feeling reminiscent of the centre of Paris. The picturesque Baku Boulevard offers a seafront stroll with views of unmissable stops like the Flame Towers and the 192-meter high Azerbaijani flag at State Flag Square. For some post-exploration rest and relaxation, stop by Gazelli Wellness Club for treatments ranging from massage and salt rooms to lymphatic drainage.

Panorama of Heydar Aliyev Center building in Baku city, Aazerbaijan in summer dusk. Famous futuristic architecture of Zaha Hadid design

Our personal highlight of Baku’s modernity is the Heydar Aliyev Center, a cultural museum designed by the late Zaha Hadid. Its white curvature features no straight lines and is occasionally compared to the wind swept flutter of Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress. The interiors of the museum are just as impressive as the exterior. The all-white space is filled with a range of engaging and interactive displays representing the past and present of Azerbaijan, as well as the work of international artists. Vintage car lovers should stop by the car exhibition filled with a stunning collection marking different eras from retro Americana and Soviet design.

The culture centre is just a view away from Baku’s Ritz-Carlton hotel which is a luxury haven in the heart of the city. Not only are the details of the hotel beautiful and the rooms spacious, but the considerate customer service and convenient location make it an experience that is second to none. Just make sure you download a local car app or keep some cash on hand for the London-inspired black taxis.

Historical old city of the capital of Azerbaijan

Along the city’s winding streets you’ll find the Old City called Icherisheher. It’s a unique mix of residential homes and historic landmarks like the picture perfect  Shirvanshah’s Palace, the historic Maiden Tower and the Juma Mosque. Built in 743 AD, it’s the second oldest mosque in the Caucus region.When it comes to exploring the culture through museums, novelty is Baku’s speciality. There’s the Carpet Museum and the Museum of Miniature Books which features everything from the Bible and Quran to Shakespeare. Behind the glass cases, you’ll also find a book small enough to fit on a microchip.

A short drive from the city you’ll find the Ateshgah of Baku, known in English as Baku Fire Temple. It’s sacred in the Zoroastrian religion which has roots in Iran and India. Although the ever-burning fires that drew worshipers to the temple since 1745 are now lit by gas instead, it’s still a unique insight into the cultural diversity of Azerbaijan.

photography. Courtesy of Azerbaijan Tourism Board 
words. Shama Nasinde