Commissions to James Dillon & Liza Lim

Klangforum Wien is approaching its 40th anniversary in 2025. An ensemble that has always pushed forward the new in music with the maximum imaginable uncompromisingness must never be content with what it has achieved nor bow to adverse circumstances. What has been achieved to date is thanks to many people – from the founder Beat Furrer to the musicians and the artistic directors. In particular, however, to those composers who have created works in dialogue with Klangforum Wien that go far beyond the usual commissioning, development and premieres. Composers and musicians of Klangforum Wien have worked together in sometimes meticulous detail to shift the horizons of what is sonically imaginable and technically possible. The ensemble became part of the creative process – creation and interpretation intertwined at the moment the musical work was created. This work was formative for Klangforum Wien and contributed significantly to its own artistic identity.

Against the background of the characteristic core repertoire and the newly honed playing power, Klangforum Wien plans to commission a further six new works for the Quinquennium 2025–29 in order to set new milestones for the ensemble. Signs that take into account the special characteristics of Klangforum Wien as an ensemble and serve as markers and orientation in the landscapes of New Music. To this end, Klangforum Wien is in dialogue with composers Liza Lim and James Dillon, among others. The aim is to create an ensemble work for Klangforum Wien in its core line-up of 23 musicians with a duration of around 45 minutes. The commissions to James Dillon and Liza Lim are made possible by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

Further information:
klangforum.at

Dates

World premiere Liza Lim:
April 10, 2025

World premiere James Dillon:
October 2025

Wiener Konzerthaus