For each of the ten Mahler symphonies, Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini has composed a short orchestral work which contemplates the music and intellectual world of Mahler’s great works. A chance coincidence now brings three world premieres in quick succession. “Incantesimo”, the fourth work in the cycle commissioned by the Jena Philharmonic and its Music Director Simon Gaudenz, precedes Mahler’s 4th Symphony with a setting of Joseph von Eichendorff’s “Abendständchen”. Sounding as if from a bygone age, “Incantesimo” begins in the related key of E minor and extends its harmonic range from verse to verse. “Einklang” for orchestra precedes Mahler’s 5th Symphony. These two works receive their world premieres on 28 April and 19 May 2022 in the Volkshaus Jena.

Charlotte Seiter has composed “zu welcher stunde” [“at which hour”] for orchestra for a musical journey through time by the Mitteldeutsche Kammerphilharmonie. The title of the concert in Stendal on 28 April 2022 is “1831 – Die Abschiedsstunde” [“The parting hour”], and combines the Seither premiere with works by Haydn, Krommer and Pleyel. “Paintings” for five-part chamber choir is a commission for the anniversary concert of the LandesJugendChor Rheinland-Pfalz, and receives its world premiere on 23 April in the Christuskirche Mainz conducted by Jan Schumacher.

This is the title of one of many concerts for Dieter Ammann’s special birthday. On 26 May 2022 the Basel Sinfonietta under Baldur Brönnimann performs the Violin Concerto “unbalanced instability” with violinist Simon Zgraggen plus the orchestral triptych “Core – Turn – Boost”. Two concerts with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra under Michael Sanderling feature “Boost” on 11 and 12 May, and on 31 May 2022 the programme includes “glut”, “Venite a dire. Raummusik”, and a world premiere of the “Morceau en forme d’improvisation”.

Beat Furrer’s orchestral work “Tableaux” is concerned with deep impacts, with layering and the finest natural and irregular voices emanating from this. The work will be premiered in the opening concert of the Donaueschingen Festival on 14.10.21 by the SWR Symphony Orchestra conducted by Brad Lubman. It is inspired by early paintings by Max Ernst from around 1927; some of them are entitled “Wald und Sonne” in which monolithic configurations of vertically-towering trees can be seen. On closer examination, these branch out into fine structures and are peopled by living creatures. Wien Modern 2021 is devoting six concerts to Beat Furrer’s works from 20–30.11.2021; this major focus in the programme includes premieres of the String Quartet no. 4 performed by the Quatuor Diotima, “Akusmata für Vokalensemble” by Cantando Admont, and “Studie II for piano” by Hsin-Huei Huang. Furrer’s Violin Concerto, “Tableaux” and other works receive their first Austrian performances.

A glimpse into the not-too-distant future: In their new opera "Singularity," composer Miroslav Srnka and author Tom Holloway dramatize mind games about computerized people, updates, and human and technical malfunctions. Their opera is a fast-paced play with set pieces of the cyber world, combining vision with farce and a glimpse into human abysses.  Expressly composed for young voices, “Singularity” was written for the opera studio of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Nicolas Brieger signed responsible for the production of the premiere on 5 June 2021 in the Cuvilliés Theatre, the Klangforum Wien played under the baton of Patrick Hahn. The opera was performed both live and per live-stream. The live-stream is still accessible. "Singularity" is the third opera by Miroslav Srnka and Tom Holloway commissioned by the Bavarian State Opera, following “Make No Noise” and “South Pole”.

On 24 March, a few months before his 90th birthday, Rudolf Kelterborn passed away in Basel. On 3 September 2021, the Swiss composer, music educator, teacher and mentor of contemporary music would have celebrated this special birthday.

For each of the ten Mahler symphonies, Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini has composed a short orchestral work which contemplates Mahler’s music and intellectual world. The end of April sees the premiere of the fourth piece, “Incantesimo”.