The culture of listening

The culture of listening

curated by Klangforum Wien

with: Peter Paul Kainrath (CEO Klangforum Wien), Giordano De Nisi (Project Manager), Bettina Mirus (Klangforum Wien, Head of Artistic Administration), Bernhard Zachhuber (Klangforum Wien, Dramaturgy), Maximilian Gehmacher (Klangforum Wien, Head of Technical Department)

Through the realization of this project, structured around three main activities, the ensemble aims to share the heritage of contemporary music while engaging with the cultural and social spaces of the city of Agrigento. The ensemble’s presence aligns perfectly with the goals of the Italian Capital of Culture 2025, embracing concepts of integration, internationalism, and innovation, which have always characterized the activity of the Viennese group. The artistic residency will unfold in three key moments: the performance of a concert featuring works selected through an international Call for Scores, a city-wide sound event called Urban Interaction, and the Symposion, an immersive concert-event.

During the first days of their stay in Agrigento, Klangforum Wien will hold rehearsals and perform a concert with the selected pieces from the international Call for Scores. This call will give voice to the diverse sonic trends of the Mediterranean area, offering a platform for avant-garde music.

The concert, scheduled to take place at Teatro Pirandello in April, will serve as a meaningful moment of dialogue between contemporary musical traditions and the public.

In May, Klangforum Wien will bring music into the city’s iconic spaces through a sound event entitled Urban Interaction. Musicians, divided into small groups, will perform in Agrigento’s most distinctive locations, creating a sound map that engages the entire community. This moment of interaction with the city will foster a process of mutual exchange and connection between the ensemble and the local population.

Inspired by Plato, the Symposion is a one-of-a-kind event also taking place in May. For around seven hours, the ensemble will offer a continuous musical flow accompanied by wine tastings, in a relaxed setting with cushions and futons, potentially outdoors. In the stunning setting of Teatro dell’Efebo, works by major contemporary composers such as Haubenstock-Ramati, Sciarrino, Furrer, Cage, Haas, Iannotta, Scelsi, Ablinger, Xenakis, and many others will be performed, creating a unique sensory and cultural experience.

Through this artistic residency, Klangforum Wien seeks to bring sonic innovation and international compositions into the urban fabric of Agrigento, engaging both residents and visitors in a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey that unites art, culture and place.

Do you know the artist:

25 musicians from 13 countries constantly explore new horizons of artistic creativity together with the most eminent composers of our time.  
Open-minded, virtuosic in performance, and perceptive in hearing, Klangforum Wien – one of the most internationally renowned contemporary music ensembles – is dedicated to artistic interpretation and the expansion of experiential space.  
A performance by Klangforum Wien is an event in the truest sense of the word; it offers a sensual, immediate and compelling experience. The novelty of its music speaks, acts, and captivates.  
Since its founding by Beat Furrer in 1985, the ensemble – which has received numerous awards and distinctions over the years – has made music history: it has premiered around 600 new works, released over 90 recordings, and appeared in the most prestigious concert halls, opera houses, and major music festivals. Klangforum Wien also presents its own annual concert series at the Wiener Konzerthaus. The ensemble’s repertoire choices and deep understanding of compositions contribute to its diversity and are matched by the most excellent and joyful execution of the music.