At the heart of this programme are artistic voices who, through lives shaped by multiple cultural contexts, have developed distinctive musical languages — not simply combining elements from different traditions, but allowing them to grow into something entirely new and uniquely their own. These are languages that reveal how compelling sonic worlds can emerge from transitions and contrasts. We will hear stories that are rarely told — yet form part of our shared inner world. These composers, whose works carry traces of their cultural origins, engage creatively with diverse musical landscapes, build bridges between traditions, and shape new forms of expression.
Programm
Oleg Krokhalev
Winding Garments (2015)
Samir Odeh-Tamimi
Óstrakon (2025) WP*
Tarek Alali
An den Ruinen (2024)
Sivan Cohen Elias
Multicounterspeechless (2021)
Michaela Catranis
ZEST (2025) WP
Mansoor Hosseini
UFO, Unidentified Flapping Object (2025) WP
Zeynep Gedizlioğlu
Denge (2025)
Leonid Desyatnikov
An Attempt to Ascend (2025) WP*
*Commissioned work by the Voices Berlin Festival
A narrative of sound sequences — difficult to categorize — fills the space: a saxophonist alone with invisible electronics. The music of Sivan Cohen Elias offers a delicate opening to awaken our listening awareness this evening. With this, we are ready to be drawn into the musical language of Samir Odeh-Tamimi in his new sextet. A quietly sung piece by Oleg Krokhalev, forms an important bridge to Michaela Catranis’s new work for the ten musicians of the Zafraan Ensemble, brought together through the highly personal setup by Zafraan percussionist Daniel Eichholz. Tarek Alali’s “An den Ruinen” (“At the Ruins”) transports us into a completely different — and, as the title suggests, very real —world. From there, we are pulled into a more concrete, performative atmosphere in Mansoor Hosseini’s new work. Before the final piece of the evening — an autobiographical work by Leonid Desyatnikov for tenor and the Zafraan Ensemble — we may find a moment of balance in the piano solo by Zeynep Gedizlioğlu.
With:
Tenor Timur Bekbosunov
Dirigent Miguel Pèrez Iñesta
Zafraan Ensemble
Liam Mallett Flöte
Martin Posegga Saxophone
Horia Dumitrache Klarinette
Emmanuelle Bernard Violine
Josa Gerhard Viola
Martin Smith Violoncello
Beltane Ruiz Kontrabass
Clemens Hund-Göschel Klavier
Julia Wacker Harfe
Daniel Eichholz Perkussion
