"The House Leaving" - Jacqueline Kornmüller

Jacqueline Kornmüller | Reading
David Bergmüller | Lute

Jacqueline Kornmüller tells the story of a special house: an old fieldstone house in East Styria that is to be left behind after ten lovingly crafted years. However, the relationship with a home that has grown over all this time and seems almost alive cannot be easily dissolved. The house observes, comments, contradicts – and reminds the narrator of how deeply intertwined people and spaces are.

In this poetic tale full of subtle irony and fine comedy, we encounter the most unusual visitors: from the seeker to the official from the Ministry of the Interior, to the Belgian and Mrs. Salz – all with their own ideas, expectations, and surprises. Between viewings, improvised glimpses into the life of the resident, and the peculiarities of the house, an engaging interplay of tension, humor, and deep reflection on belonging and departure emerges.

The reading is accompanied by David Bergmüller, one of the most innovative lutenists of our time. His playing – described by the press as “virtuosic lyricism” and “extraordinarily subtle and intoxicating” – opens finely nuanced sound spaces between baroque elegance and contemporary sound poetry. With his lute, Bergmüller creates an atmosphere that not only accompanies the text but also resonates: quietly, clearly, and with an intensity that makes listening a sensual experience.

“Leaving the House” is more than a reading: it is an excursion into the peculiarities of a house, posing questions about home and departure in poetic form – and an evening full of warmth, humor, and musical poetry. An invitation to engage with the small and large stories that connect places and people.