Miele, Bosch, AEG, Braun: These are big names in the world of kitchen appliances, but their products have now garnered a reputation for being players—in the most literal sense—in quite another realm. Over eight years, musician and composer Michael Petermann collected [or should I say 'auditioned'?] 200 vintage washers, meat grinders, vacuums, blenders, mixers and more to create the Blödes Orchester ['Stupid Orchestra']. He wrote a score showcasing the sounds of these machines and has staged concerts of the piece. I think it's a fascinating work; you can catch a performance here, or, even better, check out a short documentary on the creation of the mechanical ensemble. weisserrausch.de