Conductor

To dream what, in all its improbability, defies comprehension: This freedom and imaginative power underpin Unsuk Chin’s music. Light and colour are the aggregate states of these sounds, which – in the process of engaging with one another – continually change their consistency, hinting at these dream-landscapes’ vast expanses. Just as Enno Poppe, with his transitions between rigorously structured design and axes that reach out towards unbounded time, conjures an unrestrained, almost dizzying sound experience in his listeners.

EPSG:4326

Unlimited Time

Wiener Konzerthaus

The title of this series of concerts– »Happy New Ears« – was something John Cage once wished his audience instead of Happy New Year. Cage, along with Luigi Nono, who taught him, and Karlheinz Stockhausen were among those to have influenced Helmut Lachenmann most. He turns 90 on November 27 this year; a chance to honour one of the most important composers of the 20th and 21st centuries with a portrait concert. He's been trying to broaden horizons across the board with his distinct sound world and challenging concepts of art and music for nearly 70 years. »Art is not an expression of what defines time, but what it lacks,« he said and, with Beethoven in mind: »a metamorphosis of magical, familiar experiences triggered by a spiritually charged, creative driving force« - something that fascinates him.

Happy New Ears

HfMDK Frankfurt

Oper Frankfurt

“Ground-breaking implosions of the musical language of their time” – while being dismissed in their day at the dawn of the 20th century, the compositions of Schoenberg and Webern nowadays are understood as important milestones of music history, which also have a lasting influence on contemporary composers such as Enno Poppe and Beat Furrer.

With this concert under the baton of Katharina Wincor, Klangforum Wien returns to the wellspring of much contemporary music, the Second Viennese School, and will prove once again that it’s able to “reinvigorate the thrill of a concert with contemporary music”, as The New York Times once wrote.

Black holes from the Romantic era

Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ

After the semi-finals of the second edition of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam in June 2024, the six designated winners Luis Castillo-Briceño, Yukuang Jin, Jakub Przybycień, Rodrigo Sámano Albarrán, Miguel Sepúlveda and Sam Weller undergo a one-year mentoring programme that will culminate in the final rounds between 1 and 13 June, 2025 in De Doelen.

During these days, the finalists will demonstrate their skills in five different rounds and conduct works from a wide range of genres: from classical to contemporary music and operas to large symphonic works. On June 4, 2025, they will be at the helm of Klangforum Wien conducting works by Beat Furrer, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Enno Poppe, and Mathilde Wantenaar

ICCR Rotterdam: Final rounds 2025

De Doelen

Whitsun Festival: François-Xavier Roth conducts Boulez, Andre, Poppe and Ravel

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

Following a dazzling flute quartet by Denis Dufour, the WENM performs two classical works for the same instrumentation by Pierre Boulez and Franco Donatoni.

Study Concert New Music

University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna

On Sunday 11th June, our 22-23 NEXTies will be performing their last concert with us! Join in the celebration for only a fiver, and hear the works of composers Gérard Grisey and Aureliano Cattaneo, with a piece by one of our very own NEXTIES, Rob Hao. 

BCMG NEXT 22-23 Final Concert

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

This concert is part of the Bavarian Radios' musica viva series. Musica viva is one of the world’s most famous forums for future-oriented and contemporary music, where many experimental works and performances for orchestra and chamber music receive their premiere.

Conductor

Enno Poppe

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 2, 2025 - May 13, 2026

Happy New Ears · Oper Frankfurt

Apr 24, 2026

Enno Poppe | Furrer · Streich · Poppe · Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Past events

Feb 28, 2026

Unlimited Time · Klangforum Wien

Dec 2, 2025 - May 13, 2026

Happy New Ears · Oper Frankfurt

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in MEDUSE ”Elle est belle et elle rit” by Streich

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Mouvement (- vor der Erstarrung) by Lachenmann

Oper Frankfurt

Conductor in Körper for ensemble by Poppe

Klangforum Wien

Conductor in Double Concerto for piano, percussion and ensemble by Chin

Klangforum Wien

About

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