Concerts

Is there such thing as a «Leitkultur», or guiding culture? A glance to the southeast reveals that intercultural exchange sharpens identities and leads to cultural blossoming. This is exemplified by the rich cultural area stretching from the Mediterranean to the Middle East.

The concert program draws on this, using the example of Jewish and Persian voices. Tehran continues to be home to a large Jewish community, which is reflected in Amen Feizabadi's work. In his new work, the multidisciplinary composer underscores the parallels between Persian, Arabic and Jewish music – utilizing contemporary means. The image of an «untamed river» serves as a source of inspiration, fostering connections between cultural spaces while simultaneously unveiling its own pristine identity. Golfam Khayam also draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of her native Persia's diverse traditions. The artist cultivates her own identity through the synthesis of Persian tradition and contemporary music, which also allows for improvisational freedom, as demonstrated in «Seven Valleys of Love», a piece that is performed in a new version for string orchestra. In contrast, Yair Klartag works with AI-generated voices as well, to hollow out identities and enable their rebirth.

The 2021 Siemens Prize recipient enhances perception and listens to the inner workings of sounds. Oscar Bianchi's new work is inspired by David Grossman's 2008 novella «To the End of the Land». In this work, the Jewish author and peace activist chronicles the impact on a family when relatives are deployed to war. Bianchi also utilizes this to examine his own Italian-Swiss identity.