Summer Academy Opus XXI 2015

Opus XXI is a Summer Academy for contemporary music, which takes place this year in the castle of Spetzgart, close to ÜBerlingen in Baden-Württemberg.
Since 2001, the Summer Academy Opus XXI has provided an open space for young qualified students, where they can immerse themselves in contemporary music, ensemble repertoire and fundamentals of improvisation. A great opportunity for international instrumentalists and composers to experience contemporary music in a truly personal and inspiring atmosphere that facilitates experimentation and the encounter with different aesthetics.

The ULYSSES network already supported previous editions of the Summer Academy in 2012, 2013 and in 2014.

A group of 22 instrumentalists and composers get together with a distinguished composer in residence and an experienced ensemble for contemporary music for an intensive work experience.
In the daily workshops for instrumentalists, they rehearse new pieces and work with improvisation. Composers explore how to perform and conduct their own pieces with the ensemble for contemporary music.

These practical workshops are complemented by lectures and a composition master-class. Opus XXI provides an opportunity for international instrumentalists and composers to experience contemporary music in a truly personal and inspiring atmosphere. At the end of the Summer Academy, the workshop results are presented in a final concert.

Academy: 17.-27.08.2015
Concert:  26.08.2015

Please find here the press announcement for the final concert, as well as some fresh photos from the Academy :

Final concert of the 14th Summer Academy Opus XXI International College in Salem, Lake of Constance

The young German violinist Thomas Reif, finalist of the competition Queen Elizabeth, and Raphaele Rubio from Lyon are the soloists in the Violin Concerto by Bernard Cavanna, this year’s composer in residence at the 14th Summer Academy Opus XXI for contemporary music. The concerto has been performed twice under the direction of Claire Levacher at the final concert on 26 8th in Salem International College in Überlingen on Lake Constance. In addition to the Violin Concerto by Cavanna two commissioned works by Denis Fargeton (CNDM Lyon) and Benjamin Helmer (HfMT Hamburg) as well as compositions by Bertrand Plé and Catalina Rueda have been performed under the direction of Claire Levacher. The students were supported by members of this year’s Ensemble in Residence Kammerensemble Neue Musik, Berlin. Responsible for the programing are the artistic directors of the Academy: Henry Fourès (opus XXI, France) and Prof. Friedrich (HfMT Hamburg). Ten days of rehearsals, master classes, workshops and lectures come to an end.

The academy is a coproduction of the Hochschule for Musik and Theater, Hamburg with the association Opus XXI France, the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen as well as Salem Castle. We thank our sponsors, the Culture Program of the European Union, the Ulysses Network, the Franco-German Youth Office, the SACEM, the French-German Fund for Contemporary Music impulse and the Gerhard Trede Foundation.

Photos © Emanuel Werres

Artistic credits:

Bernard Cavanna (composer in residence),
Ensemble KNM Berlin (ensemble in residence),
Denis Fargeton (commissioned work),
Benjamin Helmer (commissioned work),
Cataline Rueda,
Florian Huber.

This project is organised in cooperation with:
Association Opus XXI, France,
Musikhochschule Trossingen, MH Trossingen, Germany

and receives support by:
impuls neue musik,
Sacem,
OFAJ /DFJW