Cassandra Miller’s (b. 1976) compositions make an indelible impression. “Music this uncalculatedly beautiful leaves you almost desperate with gratitude”, wrote Alex Ross of Miller’s motet “The City, Full of People” in the “New Yorker”. Canadian-born and London-based, her creative wellsprings are as varied as J.S. Bach, Kurt Cobain, Maria Callas, and birdsong, from which she fashions music of unerring immediacy, often drawing on forms of creative transcription. “The Guardian” hailed her Duet for Cello and Orchestra as one of finest compositions of the 21st century.

After his Violin and Piano Concertos Dieter Ammann has turned his attention to the viola and its soloistic possibilities. Two things are striking: undisguised tonality and political influences.

Philipp Maintz, born in Aachen, returns to his native city as “Composer in Focus” in a season for the anniversary of the Symphony Orchestra. The high point will be the world premiere of his orchestral work “approximate sonata”.

The composer Giselher Klebe was born in Mannheim on 28 June 1925. His 100th anniversary offers an opportunity to re-examine his extensive output.

Lisa Illean (b.1983) invites listeners “to immerse themselves in a world where near silence and stillness shape the very fabric of its sounds” (Gramophone).

Bruno Mantovani’s opera “Voyage d’automne” receives its premiere in Toulouse  In his third opera, Bruno Mantovani tackles a controversial theme with a highly-developed feeling for drama and hypnotic intensity: the collaboration of French intellectuals with the National Socialists.

Hardly any other contemporary composer has developed such an unmistakable personal style as Beat Furrer. In his 70th year is he reaping the fruits of his artistic consistency.