"Farben oder Töne" (Colours or tones) is the title of a text about Edward "the Duke" Ellington, which Maximilian Held will recite in his tribute to the great composer and big band leader. Duke Ellington was able like no other in jazz to capture extra-musical images and produce moods through his colourful compositional technique. The Big Band of the Deutsche Oper will trace this artist and his way of composing with Ellington arrangements and original compositions by Manfred Honetschläger in Ellington's style. "Mood Indigo" and "Caravan" are only two of countless paintings that Ellington painted acoustically. A collage of wonderful texts about him, his time and his band, combined with his music, give an insight into the great work of this so important musician.