Music Triennial Cologne
The MusikTriennale Köln is one of the largest music festivals that combines classical , jazz and world music . It takes place every three years in various venues in the cathedral city and brings together numerous musicians, artists and ensembles from the classical and independent scene during this time.
In three event cycles - 1994, 1997 and 2000 - the MusikTriennale Köln established itself as the world's most important festival for the music of the 20th century. With the MusikTriennale Köln 2004, a new section began in the 21st century with a new thematic focus. In 2010 the MusikTriennale Cologne took place for the sixth time.
MusikTriennale Cologne 1994, 1997 and 2000
The MusikTriennale Köln 1994, 1997, 2000 wanted to draw a musical balance sheet of the century, and for this the founders created a sustainable structure around the director of the Cologne Philharmonic at the time , Franz Xaver Ohnesorg : with the WDR as a broadcaster, the cultural department of the city of Cologne and The then Foundation for Art and Culture of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (today: Kunststiftung NRW) as sponsor of the festival, the MusikTriennale Köln GmbH was founded in 1991 as a subsidiary of KölnMusik GmbH (the operating company of the Cologne Philharmonic). The artistic directors of the MusikTriennale Köln were Franz Xaver Ohnesorg, Renate Liesmann as the city's music advisor, Heiner Müller-Adolphi as head of music programming for the WDR radio, and Reiner Michalke, head of the Cologne Jazzhaus initiative.
With the Festival 2000 and in preparation for 2004, the artistic direction of the MusikTriennale Köln was reorganized: Under the overall direction of the then Philharmonic Director Albin Hänseroth , Hans-Joachim Wagner designed as music advisor for the city of Cologne, Karl Karst as wave boss of WDR 3 and Reiner Michalke the festival program.
Music Triennial Cologne 2004
With the MusikTriennale Cologne 2004, the 21st century began with a look ahead and a look back: The program, under the motto “Discovery of Europe”, set current sounds in relation to its tradition.
The Cologne Music Triennial 2004 had four main focal points: the big retrospective “Omaggio a Luigi Nono ” was unexpectedly successful . More than half of Nono's total oeuvre was performed by many of his companions in Cologne, among others. The highlight was the Cologne premiere of the monumental audio tragedy Prometeo in the Sartory halls . The European music scene presented itself in the series "Kontinent Klang" in large orchestral concerts. The orchestras and ensembles came from France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Finland, England and Germany. The series “Immer Now” showed Cologne, the city of music, juxtaposing large works that premiered in Cologne, such as Gustav Mahler's Fifth or Johannes Brahms ' Double Concerto, and the numerous world premieres of the MusikTriennale 2004 - including Mauricio Kagel's Other Gesänge and Thomas Witzmann's Um Formung. The " Folklore Imaginaire " series brought together musicians from all over Europe who were open to this contemporary direction in jazz.
Music Triennial Cologne 2007
Between April 27 and May 20, 2007, the MusikTriennale Cologne took place for the fifth time and once again brought numerous musical personalities as well as various ensembles and orchestras to Cologne. The spectrum of events ranged from concerts, installations, introductory events, film screenings and exhibitions to culinary explorations. In more than 30 venues, the public space was also included in the festival: the concerts took place not only in traditional venues such as the Cologne Philharmonic, the WDR Funkhaus on Wallrafplatz or the Loft ( James Choice Orchestra ), but also in unfamiliar ones Places such as B. the Cologne cable car, the culture bunker Mülheim or the stairwell in the Higher Regional Court. In more than 150 events, the MusikTriennale Köln 2007 dedicated itself to the work of the composer Luciano Berio under the motto “unforeseen” , dealt with the diverse musical expression improvisation and concentrated on the music of China from then and on for a whole weekend today. For the first time, the MusikTriennale 2–20 took place, which had musical offers for children and young people.
Artistic director of the MusikTriennale Cologne 2007
The MusikTriennale Köln was shaped by a three-man artistic director: under the overall direction of Louwrens Langevoort, artistic director of the Cologne Philharmonic and managing director of KölnMusik GmbH, Karl Karst, program director of WDR 3 and Reiner Michalke , director of the Moers Festival and director of the Stadtgarten , designed the festival program . Up to and including September 30, 2006, Hans-Joachim Wagner was also involved in the program planning as music advisor for the city of Cologne as a member of the artistic management. The artistic direction received further support from the chairman of the supervisory board of MusikTriennale Köln GmbH, Hans-Georg Bögner.
MusikTriennale Cologne 2010
The sixth and final edition of the festival dealt with the topic of homeland - homeless . There is home in every music, namely that of the composer, that of the interpreter or that of the listener. Gustav Mahler's works, for example, are shaped by the diversity of his geographical references. Other artists such as Hanns Eisler deal with their past under the Nazi or GDR regime in their works. The current homelessness in times of globalization was also discussed.
Once again the idea was to go out into the city and offer a wide range of cultural trends. In addition to concerts, exhibitions and film screenings could be visited. The MusikTriennale Lounge made it possible to talk directly to the artists after a concert. An important part of the program was again the MusikTriennale 2-20, which took care of the musical education of the next generation with concerts and workshops on the subject of home and contemporary music. For the first time, the composition competition to promote young composers took place, which was aimed at all music students. From the applications, three works were selected by a specialist jury and premiered by ensembles for new music in a final concert.
The highlight of the festival was the world premiere of the complete cycle of Karlheinz Stockhausen 's last great work KLANG, which was performed in the form of a convertible concert at 9 different venues over two days. It was interpreted by the ensemble musikFabrik and numerous guest musicians under the motto of having music instead of sitting out .
It was the last festival of this constellation. The artistic direction then called a new festival - ACHT BRÜCKEN | Music for Cologne, which has been taking place annually at the beginning of May since 2011.