AGE ART – “How to die young at a very old age”
A thought-provoking and profoundly moving evening
On Friday August 22nd 2025 evening, the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging opened its doors to a thrilling event that elegantly bridged the lines between science and music. As part of the institute’s AGE ART lecture series, guests were invited not only to a concert or a lecture, but to experience an interdisciplinary dialogue exploring aging through music, science, and ideas.
The evening began with the welcoming remarks from the current managing director of the institute MPI AGE, Prof Anne Schaefer followed by a fascinating lecture from Prof Nir Barzilai, one of the world’s leading researchers in the biology of aging. His lecture, “How to die young at a very old age,” was delivered with wit and clarity for the lay audience. Rather than overwhelming with technical detail, Barzilai presented the science of longevity as a story, connecting genetic pathways, lifestyle interventions, and emerging drugs and therapies into a story of hope and possibilities. The implication was not simply longer life, but longer vitality, meaning more years lived with energy, resilience and purpose. The example of a 102 year old painter Prof Barzilai showcased in the lecture was a testament to healthy aging.
Following the scientific segment, the spotlight turned to soprano Christiane Oelze, whose translucent voice filled the hall with warmth and emotional depth. Accompanied by pianist Christoph Maria Wagner, she curated a program spanning Clara Schumann to Cole Porter, weaving together themes of time, mortality, and renewal. Oelze’s vocal clarity never forced, always poised made every Lied feel like a moment of reflection. Wagner’s sensitive, finely shaded accompaniment allowed the music to breathe, giving each piece an intimacy that resonated deeply with the audience. The surprise encore “Flower Duet’ from Lakme sung by Oelze and our very own scientific coordinator, Gabriella Lundkvist brought the house down!
What made the evening exceptional was the ideas of symbiosis between the two disciplines. Music and science, though existing in separate spheres, revealed their shared scope of interest in the human condition, how we experience time and how we find beauty and joy in life. Together, they presented aging not as decline, but as a place for reflection, creativity, and moreover, renewal.
by Helen Antebi
