Musikfestival Bern 2025

Musikfestival Bern is a musical platform for Swiss and international musicians. From September 3 to 7, 2025, it will present an innovative programme ranging from early and new music to electronic and experimental works and numerous world premieres on the theme of chains.

Chains connect, but they also bind. They create relationships, but they also constrain. They decorate, express and hold bridges together. Various aspects of the theme will be explored: Swiss-Nigerian composer Charles Uzor approaches the theme from a political perspective. Since the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Uzor’s work has become increasingly political, and he has developed different forms of presentation for it.

Communication chains span the globe on a variety of levels: what does this interconnectedness mean for our lives? Basel-based media scientist Ute Holl will speak on this topic, and Zurich composer Noémi Büchi will perform an electronic piece.

A chain, whether made of pearls or stones, is a piece of jewellery – and yet it has many meanings. What is behind it? How should such jewellery be interpreted? What does it trigger when we look at it? Music and expertise (from the jewellery trade) enter into a dialogue here about the affect and effect of being adorned.

Svetlana Maraš, a musician living in Basel and a leading figure in experimental electronic music, has been invited as composer in residence. She will enrich the programme with concert works, installations and improvisations. She will also give a talk on women in electronic music. In addition, the Ensemble Ictus from Brussels will perform as ensemble in residence.

The Musikfestival Bern 2025 is supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

Further information:
musikfestivalbern.ch

Dates

September 3–7, 2025
Various locations, Bern