As evening sunshine ripples through a ripening pear tree, birds chatter above the distant hum of a lawnmower. Then, suddenly, the singers of Lübeck's rock and roll choir raise their voices.
Swaying and smiling, they run through their repertoire: classics like Jailhouse Rock and Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Germany's cultural life is slowly coming back to life. The German government has set aside more than €1bn (£896m; $1.13bn) to protect the arts - in addition to a furlough scheme and grants for freelancers.
The coronavirus outbreak silenced amateur choirs. Concerts are still forbidden and the rehearsal room remains out of bounds.
But many are trying to find ways to safely sing again. For the Lübeck singers that means practice in their conductor's garden.
"You come home with a smile after every time you sing with friends here. That was really missing," says one of the singers.
House lights on as theatres return
Galleries have reopened to (masked and distanced) visitors. So have some theatres - like the Theater Combinale in Lübeck, where they are preparing a new piece, written during the months when the house was forced to "go dark".
