das neue ensemble
Das Neue Ensemble was founded in Hannover with Stephan Meier as artistic director in 1993, since when it has attained a rightful place among internationally successful contemporary music ensembles. The ensemble performs post-1900 music with a core line-up of flute - clarinet - violin - violoncello - piano - percussion.
Contemporary works, written for Das Neue Ensemble, and concerts in various European cities take up a large part of the ensemble's work. A recurrent programmatic feature are concerts arranged by the ensemble to explore interesting thematic combinations of specific locations/concert surroundings and musical programs.
Its innovative programme concept was recognised in 2005 with the German Music Council (Deutscher Musikrat) "Inventio-Preis": "Gelbe Klänge" in Hannover"s Sprengel Museum combined music and visual arts, stellar compositions resounding under the heavens in "Moonlight Serenade", and "DaDaBus" following in the footsteps of Kurt Schwitters. Das Neue Ensemble also wins many new young listeners with its programmes for children, and its "Mobile Musik" subscription series has gathered a broad-based and fiercely loyal audience.
Among other appearances, Das Neue Ensemble has participated in the World New Music Days and the cultural programme at the German pavilion during the EXPO 2000 World Exposition, and performed in Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Amsterdam, Riga and Cracow. Commissioned by WDR, NDR, br and ORB public broadcasting, the ensemble has recorded for radio and on CD and worked with composers such as Caspar Johannes Walter, Earle Brown, Wolfgang Rihm, Richard Rijnvos, Gijsbrecht Royé, Johannes Schöllhorn and Mark André.
A number of CDs are currently available from the Neue Ensemble, among them:
"Johannes Schöllhorn: liu-yi" (2008, æon, in cooperation with WDR)
"Pierre Boulez: Le Marteau sans Maître", directed by Peter Rundel (2000, in cooperation with NDR)
"Dansce instrumental" with works by Kyburz, Hosokawa, Vivier and Schleiermacher (2000)
"Gelbe Klänge" with live recordings in Sprengel Museum, Hannover (1999)
These can be ordered at the ensemble's office.
The ensemble's studio/office is located in Hannover on the historical premises of Emil Berliner's original workshop (before he emigrated to the U.S. to invent the phonograph), later extended to become the first record factory of the Deutsche Grammophone Gesellschaft.
Das Neue Ensemble is supported by the City of Hannover, the Country of Niedersachsen, and the "Musik für heute" Society, among others. It is involved, as a partner in the "Musik 21 Niedersachsen 2008-2011" series, in the national "Netzwerk Neue Musik" funded by the German Federal Cultural Foundation.
line up
Brigitte Sauer - flute
Udo Grimm - clarinet
Christian Schulte - piano
Stephan Meier - percussion
Sabine Akiko Ahrendt - violin
Karsten Dehning - violoncello
ensemble s-
Often, Das Neue Ensemble extends its line-up to include other musicians.
The Ensemble s- grew out of this arrangement. Six internationally renowed percussionists, members or regular collaborators of ASKO, ensemble Recherche, slagwerkgroep Den Haag and others, explore rarely heard percussion music. Karlheinz Stockhausen's work is a central programmatic field of Ensemble s-.
For the latest project of Ensemble s-, see:
www.circus-s.de!
contact
Das Neue Ensemble
Edwin-Oppler-Weg 5
30167 Hannover
Germany
Tel. + 49 (0) 511 - 161 1983
Fax: + 49 (0) 511 - 161 4250
Artistic direction:
Stephan Meier
Gabelsberger Str. 1
30163 Hannover
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 171 - 216 95 60
musik für heute e.V.
The Musik für heute society supports Das Neue Ensemble and its concert series "Mobile Musik". Please write to:
Förderverein Musik für heute e.V.
Chairlady: Angela Kriesel
Edwin-Oppler-Weg 5
30167 Hannover
Germany