Ensemble Modern | IEMA-Ensemble | Sylvain Cambreling

For over half a century, Helmut Lachenmann has been excitingly challenging listening habits and performance traditions. And it is not uncommon for him to pull the rug out from under our feet with downright delightful relish. 

The Frankfurt Ensemble Modern is now congratulating him on his 90th birthday with the ensemble piece »Concertini« for 27 solo musicians. Before that, the large-scale, colourful  »Graffiti« by Korean composer Unsuk Chin will be performed. The sophisticatedly colourful bustle in the work, which was premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2013, is also ensured by unconventional playing techniques, for example in the strings and wind instruments. In contrast, Lachenmann's »Concertini« presents a huge kaleidoscope of unusual sound generators and noises, with the musicians resorting to soundless breathing or surreal scraping and scratching actions in scenes reminiscent of theatre. New music to marvel at and smile about! The overall direction is in the hands of Sylvain Cambreling, one of the best Lachenmann experts.

Sponsored by Kuratorium KölnMusik e. V.