This year’s Donaueschinger Musiktage presents the world premieres of works by Rebecca Saunders and Fabien Lévy as well as the German Composers Association’s ceremony where a badge of honor will be awarded to Charlotte Seither.
As part of the festivals side events, composer Charlotte Seither will receive the Ehrennadel (badge of honor) by the Fachgruppe E-Musik Plus (FEM+) of the German Composers Association on Friday October 16. With this award, FEM+ honors one of the most prominent figures in contemporary music, whose artistic work, commitment to cultural policy, and tireless advocacy for the interests of composers have had a lasting impact on new music in Germany and far beyond. The honor ceremony will be musically accompanied by Andreas Fischer (Neue Vokalsolisten Stuttgart) and the laudation will be held by Frank Kämpfer (Deutschlandfunk).
October 18 then sees the world premieres of thirst by Rebecca Saunders and Que reste-t-il? – Hindewhu extinction by Fabien Lévy.
thirst for eighteen strings and conductor will be premiered by Ensemble Resonanz and Enno Poppe, who jointly commissioned the work with Südwestrundfunk, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ Amsterdam, Klangspuren Schwaz, and with support from the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.
Saunders explores how music reaches into our soul and so invites us to feel, move, succumb, think, observe, question and resist.
Que reste-t-il? – Hindewhu extinction for large orchestra by Fabien Lévy is part of the festival’s closing concert performed by its commissioner SWR Symphony Orchestra and conductor François-Xavier Roth. The composition is a polyrhythmic homage to the music of the Mbaka, Bedzan, and Aka communities in Central Africa, whose existence is threatened by the climate crisis.
For more information on the works and performances see Donaueschinger Musiktage.
