Download Kaija Saariaho Den Haag 2011

Top musicians from throughout Europe founded the New European Ensemble in 2008. Their goal
is to bridge the gap between new music and the public at large through exciting and expressive
performances of 20th and 21st century chamber and ensemble music. The New European Ensemble
also strives to renew the concert format with the aim of showing new music’s relevance to society.
New European Ensemble is made up of young soloists, chamber musicians and orchestral leaders
who are forging new paths in musical performance and connecting with a new generation of young
composers. The ensemble is made up of a core group of 13 musicians and guest musicians are often
invited to perform with the ensemble to expand the setting.
Since its inception in 2008 the ensemble has been invited to perform at most of the leading concert
halls in the Netherlands including Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ (Amsterdam), De Doelen (Rotterdam)
and the Dr. Anton Philipszaal (Den Haag). In 2010 the ensemble created a partnership project with
Amnesty International for a performance of Hans Werner Henze’s ‘Voices’, exploring human
rights issues in the world today. New European Ensemble has also presented a festival around
Arnold Schönberg’s music and performed at the opening concert of the Antillen Festival.
The New European Ensemble opened its 2010-2011 season at the Orpheus Theater in
Apeldoorn with the music theatre production Moonstruck Intoxication in collaboration with New
Opera Amsterdam. In October the ensemble toured Sweden’s major cities starting at Västerås
Concert Hall with subsequent performances in Stockholm, Gothenburg and at the Connect Festival
in Malmö. The New European Ensemble was 'ensemble in residence' at the new White Crow Music
Festival in Leiden (NL) presenting six concert programmes. Some of the highlights from the
festival were performances of the ensemble version of Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde as
well as world premiere performances of works by Benjmin Staern and Silvia Colasanti. The
ensemble's program also focused on works by Arnold Schönberg and Tristan Keuris. Upcoming
events include a tour of Great Britain with music by Arnold Schönberg as well as an invitation for a
residency in Aldeburgh (UK). The ensemble’s first CD recording with works by Arnold Schönberg
is set to be released soon. In September 2010 Benjamin Staern was appointed as the ensemble's
first composer in residence.
The young Swedish conductor Christian Karlsen is the ensemble’s artistic director. He has worked
with most of the Netherland’s orchestras as well as conducting in Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland,
Germany and the United Kingdom. Christian Karlsen is a passionate advocate of contemporary
music and has collaborated with many composers including Karlheinz Stockhausen and Sofia
Gubaidulina.
2011 - Do not alter without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.
[email protected]
- www.neweuropeanensemble.com