‘Nights I wander the world’s city streets, looking for you and talking to you, my heart.’ – Danaë Killian

Forest Collective’s star pianist Danaë Killian (The Minotaur in Labyrinth) returns solo to Midsumma 2026 in a thrillingly intimate performance celebrating the launch of her latest album, My Heart (Move Records) at Melbourne Recital Centre. Inspired by Jewish German Expressionist poet Else Lasker-Schüler’s novel ‘Mein Herz,’ Danaë’s piano performance flies on a magic carpet of spoken-word improvisatory poetic threads, which existentially obfuscate the boundaries between Danaë and Else, as both their hearts break. Music by Danaë’s real-life composer friends wraps around these shattered hearts like an exquisitely unction-soaked, colourful bandage.

Music by Evan J Lawson, Arnold Schoenberg, Howard Dillon, Christine McCombe, Amelia Barden, Colin McKellar, Gregers Brinch, and Danaë Killian. Words by Danaë Killian and Else Lasker-Schüler.

This performance takes place on Else Lasker-Schüler’s death day and Danaë Killian’s birthday.