Ostrava Days 2017
New and Experimental Music Festival
August 24 - September 2
Ostrava, Czech Republic
World premieres of contemporary music - compositions for orchestra - contemporary opera - sound installations – electronic music minimarathon - virtuosic solos - experimental performances – works by young composers - return to the beginnings of the avant-garde - participation of renowned composers - international Ostravská banda - debut of ONO / Ostrava New Orchestra - international guests - new industrial locations
The Ostrava Days Festival represents a unique opportunity to experience the uncompromising and authentic presentation of music of the 20th and 21st centuries!
Ostrava Days is focused on contemporary classical music, whether it be avant-garde, experimental, or otherwise risk-taking. The Festival is preceded by the Institute, which allows young composers to work with world-famous figures of contemporary music for three weeks and be present at rehearsals of their own pieces. Ostrava Days festival introduces many world-premiere and Czech-premiere orchestral compositions to the public. Woks are studied during the last two weeks in August by Ostravská banda, the Ostrava New Orchestra, and the Canticum Ostrava choir, along with many top-class ensembles, soloists, and conductors.
It is only in Ostrava that you can hear pieces from avant-garde composers such as Charles Ives, Julián Carrillo, Edgar Varèse, John Cage, Morton Feldman, György Ligeti, or Iannis Xenakis over just a few days. Ostrava Days 2017 will be the premiere for composer Salvatore Sciarrino as lector, and for soprano Kate Soper as lector and performer. American legends Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis, and Roscoe Mitchell will come to Ostrava to improvise. Europe will be represented by the renowned Richard Ayres, Bernhard Lang, and Jennifer Walshe. The Czech scene in particular will be represented by compositions from Miroslav Srnka, Petr Kotík, Pavel Zemek Novák, Petr Bakla, Petr Cígler, and Michal Rataj.
As for the interpretative stars, OD17 will host the Momenta Quartet, the new music ensemble Loadbang, and String Noise - one of the most sought-after ensembles in New York, Neue Vocalsolisten from Stuttgart will also be performing and, most importantly, two resident orchestras: the international Ostravská banda and a newly formed symphonic orchestra for contemporary music, ONO (Ostrava New Orchestra).
As in previous years, orchestras will be conducted by Petr Kotík, Rolf Gupta, and Carl Bettendorf. OD17 will also welcome a new conductors, Joseph Trafton from Mannheim and Bruno Ferrandis from Paris.
Among the soloists who will participate are pianists Joseph Kubera and Daan Vandewalle, violinist Hana Kotková, violist Nikolaus Schlierf, French hornist Daniel Costello, percussionists Tamás Schlanger and Eirik Raude, and singers like Measha Brueggergosman, Holger Falk, Katalin Károlyi, Taylan Reinhard, and Maciej Idziorek.
The orchestras of OD 2017 will take up new residence at Triple Hall Karolina and Coal Mine Michal in Lower Area Vítkovice. The Festival will take place at six other locations in Ostrava, all within a few minutes walk of each other.
Ostrava Days 2017 is held in collaboration with PLATO Ostrava, Bludný kámen z.s., National Moravian-Silesian Theatre, and Czech Center New York.
