© © Wonge Bergmann für das Ensemble Modern

Gifts

Miniatures Celebrating the Double Anniversary

In the millennium year of 2000, Ensemble Modern, then 20 years old, founded its own label for CDs and DVDs: Ensemble Modern Media. Ever since, the ensemble itself has controlled large parts of the media output and sustainable documentation of its work. It decides autonomously which media productions are released when and how. So far, about 40 albums are available. They offer a comprehensive spectrum of works which the ensemble has performed or premiered. On the occasion of the double anniversary of the ensemble and its label, Ensemble Modern has asked long-time companions and young composers for miniatures lasting one to two minutes each. The set theme was ›Winter – Christmas – Ceremony‹. The resulting pieces form a richly-filled advent calendar or birthday gift table – and reflect many aesthetic facets of Ensemble Modern. This anniversary concert first introduces them to the public. The concert is also the release party for the corresponding CD. In cooperation with hr2-kultur, Ensemble Modern’s faithful cultural partner, all birthday serenades have been produced by sound engineers in advance. A musical mosaic of multiple miniatures.

Ensemble Modern celebrated its 40th birthday with 40 (!) world premieres of fresh new pieces in one single evening. Has anything like this ever been heard before?Badische Neueste Nachrichten, Jens Wehn
During the boisterous final rehearsals for today’s ceremony at Frankfurt’s Alte Oper, the musicians displayed lots of their main qualities: spontaneity, precision, humour and incisive idiosyncrasy.Offenbach Post, Bettina Boyens
The evening of 40 world premieres conducted by Ingo Metzmacher and featuring a movingly impressive homage by Ilja Trojanow had meaning, style and substance. Hats off!Neue Musikzeitung, Roland H. Dippel
// Video

1 2 3 4 ty Years Ensemble Modern - Beschenkt: Miniaturen zum Doppeljubiläum (Trailer)