The dialectic of freedom and oppression runs as a guiding theme through the diverse artistic program of this concert by the Neue Vocalsolisten. Works written especially for the Neue Vocalsolisten will be performed and presented publicly for the first time.

The memories of women who witnessed the revolution in Belarus in 2020, recorded by the artist Olga Bubich, form the basis of the new piece by Sergei Nevsky. The quiet but distinct voices of women protesting in Istanbul’s Taksim Square are echoed in Turkish composer Zeynep Gedizlioglu’s Kelimeler.

Ukrainian-born, Berlin-based composer Alexandra Filonenko transforms Heiner Müller’s »Hamlet Machine« into a metaphor for the emergence of language from breath and sound. Finally, the world premieres of the Ukrainian composer Maksim Kolomiiets and his Russian colleague Vladimir Rannev, whose cycle »EREIGNISSE« is based on Thomas Bernhard’s short stories of the same name and describes the suppression of individual freedom: a poetic but clear response to the challenges of our time.

Program:

Vladimir Rannev: Incidents for six voices after selected texts from the cycle by Thomas Bernhard

Sergej Newski/Olga Bubich: New Work for four voices (2023) WP

Alexandra Filonenko: Naked for Countertenor solo (2013)

Maxim Kolomiiiets: New Work for voices (2023) WP

Zeynep Gedizlioglu: Kelimeler (Words) for five voices (2013/14)