Incense of Music 67

A multisensory concert – Friday, 24th October 2025, 8 pm

Yannick Rafalimanana, Klavier

Fabio Dondero (incense): oud and cypress

Program: works by Debussy, Rachmaninov, Dessau, Ciurlionis, Satie

 

PANDA Platforma in der Kulturbrauerei, Knaackstr. 97, 10435 Berlin

Experience an immersive evening with acclaimed French pianist Yannick Rafalimanana in Panda Platforma’s “Incense of Music” series. As his celebrated interpretations fill the room, projections of paintings by great masters will illuminate the stage. This unique concert creates a total sensory experience, enhanced by the subtle aroma of curated incense. Join us for a powerful dialogue between music and art—a journey where sound, sight, and scent merge into one.

French pianist Yannick Rafalimanana has developed an international concert career as a recitalist and chamber musician. Recent performances have taken him to halls all over the world, including the Berlin Philharmonie, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Wigmore Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Köln Philharmonie, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Chamber Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington. He has made chamber music with countless artists, including Kim Kashkashian, Steven Isserlis, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Arnold Steinhardt, and Itzhak Perlman. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra, the Orchestre CNR de Lille, Orchestre Impromptu, the Ensemble Parisien. He has worked under the batons of Péter Eötvös, Maxime Pascal, Jean Deroyer, Lucie Leguay and Zolt Nagy. Yannick regularly appears at a wide variety of summer festivals, including the Perlman Music Program, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Osterfestspiele Baden-Baden, Sommerliche Hitzacker Musiktage , OCM Prussia Cove and Krzyzowa-Musik Festival. Yannick is the winner of numerous awards and prizes, including the Borromeo Quartet Guest Artist Award, the Bruxelles J-Musiciens Competition, the Brest Piano Competition, and the International Ravel Academy’s Rotary-Lions Competition. As the first prize winner of the 2012 Tufts/New England Conservatory Soloist Competition, he made his U.S. concerto debut in Symphony Hall in Boston, playing the Schumann Concerto with the Boston Pops Orchestra and Keith Lockhart. Born in Lille, he began his musical studies at the Conservatory of Lille under the tutelage of Alain Raes. He later graduated from the Paris Conservatoire with first prizes in piano performance, chamber music, and collaborative piano performance. His teachers there included Bruno Rigutto, Michael Levinas, and Jean-Claude Pennetier. His chamber music and collaborative piano coaches included Francois Salque, Michel Moraguais, David Walter and Jean Koerner. Yannick then moved to Boston, where he obtained a graduate diploma from the New England Conservatory in piano performance and a master of music in chamber music as a student of Vivian Weilerstein. Yannick has been teaching Chamber Music at the Folkwang University of Arts in Essen from 2015 to 2018. In 2022, he launched a concert series in his Berlin neighborhood called “Yannick’s Salon” bringing Chamber Music masterpieces to the local audience of Weissensee.

Agarwood, also known as oud, aloeswood, or eaglewood, is a fascinating and highly prized natural product with a rich history in various cultures, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. Its allure stems from both the unique botanical origins of the plant and the exquisite, complex aroma it produces when burned as incense.  Agarwood doesn’t come from a specific species of tree, but rather from a genus of trees called Aquilaria, primarily found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. What makes agarwood so special is not the tree itself, but a unique and somewhat mysterious process that occurs within its heartwood. The Aquilaria are evergreen trees that can grow quite large, sometimes reaching heights of over 30 meters. They typically have smooth bark, simple leaves, and small, fragrant flowers. The magic happens when the Aquilaria tree is infected by a specific type of mold, Phialophora parasitica, or is otherwise stressed or injured (e.g., by lightning, insect infestation, or even human intervention). In response to this attack, the tree produces a dark, aromatic resin as a defense mechanism. This resin permeates the heartwood, transforming the pale, odorless wood into the dark, dense, and fragrant agarwood. The quality of agarwood varies greatly depending on the species of Aquilaria, the type and extent of infection, the age of the tree, and the specific environmental conditions. High-grade agarwood is often dark brown or black, heavy (due to the high resin content), and has a rich, complex aroma even before burning. It can take decades, or even centuries, for the resin to fully develop, making naturally formed agarwood incredibly rare and expensive. Due to its high demand and the slow, natural process of its formation, many Aquilaria species are now endangered. This has led to the development of sustainable harvesting methods, including inoculation techniques to induce resin formation in farmed trees, and strict regulations on wild harvesting. When agarwood is burned as incense, it releases a captivating and highly complex aroma that is deeply revered across many cultures. Aromatic Profile: The scent of agarwood is incredibly nuanced and can vary significantly depending on its origin and quality. However, common descriptors include: A rich, deep, and often aged wood scent, distinct from common woods like sandalwood or cedar. Hints of honey, vanilla, or amber, providing a warm and inviting sweetness. Notes of leather, tobacco, or a subtle spiciness that adds depth.A subtle, intriguing animalic or musky undertone that gives it a luxurious and sometimes slightly wild character. In some rare varieties, faint hints of dried fruit or delicate floral notes might be detected. Agarwood has been used for millennia in religious ceremonies, meditations, and spiritual practices in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and other traditions. It’s believed to purify the air, calm the mind, and facilitate spiritual connection. It is one of the most sought-after and expensive ingredients in high-end perfumery, often forming the base note for “oud” fragrances, which are incredibly popular in the Middle East and increasingly worldwide. Due to its rarity and exquisite aroma, agarwood is often associated with luxury, wealth, and status. It’s given as a prestigious gift and used in homes to signify elegance and refinement. In some traditional medicine systems, agarwood is believed to have therapeutic properties, including acting as a stimulant, tonic, or even an aphrodisiac. Agarwood is available in various forms: Wood Chips/Shavings: The most direct form, often burned on a charcoal disc to slowly release its fragrance. Ground agarwood, which can be burned directly or mixed into other incense blends. Oil (Oud Oil): A highly concentrated essential oil distilled from agarwood, used in perfumery and as a personal fragrance. Incense Sticks/Cones: While less common for pure, high-grade agarwood, it can be incorporated into manufactured incense products, often blended with other ingredients. In essence, agarwood is a testament to nature’s incredible ability to transform, turning a tree’s defense mechanism into one of the world’s most cherished and evocative aromas. It bridges the gap between the botanical world and the realms of spirituality, luxury, and sensory pleasure.

 

Cypress, a conifer with ancient roots, offers a distinct presence both in the landscape and in the world of aromatic materials. It’s revered for its longevity and the unique, grounding scent it provides when used as incense. Cypress refers to several species within the Cupressaceae family, most commonly the Mediterranean Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), known for its slender, columnar form, and various species of False Cypress (Chamaecyparis). Appearance and Habitat: Cypresses are evergreen trees, often characterized by their dense, scale-like leaves and small, woody cones. They typically thrive in temperate regions, often found in rocky, well-drained soils. The Mediterranean Cypress, in particular, is iconic in landscapes across Southern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, frequently seen in cemeteries, parks, and along roadsides, often reaching impressive heights and living for centuries. Wood Characteristics: The wood of cypress trees is known for its durability, resistance to rot and insect infestation, and its pleasant, slightly aromatic quality. This made it a valued material for construction, shipbuilding, and furniture-making throughout history. Symbolism: Due to its longevity, evergreen nature, and association with sacred spaces, cypress has long been a symbol of immortality, grief, and remembrance in many cultures. Cypress as an Incense: A Grounding and Cleansing Aroma When cypress wood, resin, or essential oil is used as incense, it releases a clean, refreshing, and deeply grounding aroma. Aromatic Profile: The scent of cypress incense is typically: Fresh and Woody: A crisp, forest-like wood scent, reminiscent of a coniferous forest after rain. Resinous/Piny: It carries a distinct resinous or pine-like quality, but often smoother and less sharp than some true pines. Earthy/Slightly Smoky: A subtle earthiness or a light, clean smokiness can be present, adding to its grounding effect. Clean/Camphorous (less common): Some varieties might have a very faint, refreshing camphoraceous note. Cultural and Spiritual Significance: Purification and Protection: Cypress incense has traditionally been used in various cultures for cleansing and purification rituals, believed to clear negative energies and create a sacred space. Meditation and Focus: Its grounding and calming aroma makes it popular for meditation, enhancing focus and promoting a sense of inner peace. Grief and Remembrance: Reflecting its symbolism as a tree, cypress incense is often used in ceremonies related to grief, remembrance, and contemplation of mortality, offering a sense of solace and connection. Respiratory Support: In aromatherapy, the essential oil of cypress is sometimes used for its perceived benefits in supporting respiratory health, and this quality can subtly translate when diffused as incense. Forms of Incense: Cypress is most commonly found as: Essential Oil: Used in diffusers or incorporated into incense blends. Wood Chips/Powder: Burned directly on charcoal or as part of a loose incense mixture. Incense Sticks/Cones: Blended into manufactured incense, often alongside other complementary forest scents. In summary, cypress, both as a resilient plant and a fragrant incense, offers a profound connection to nature’s enduring spirit. Its aroma provides a refreshing, woody embrace that grounds the senses and purifies the atmosphere.