The Ostrava Days Festival is one of the world’s premier festivals of contemporary classical music. This year’s edition, happening from August 24 – September 2, will feature a selection of works from some of Austria’s most highly-regarded composers.
2023 marks the 12th edition of the biennial Ostrava Days Festival, and as usual, the organizers have thought big: in August, over 200 performers and composers from all over the world will descend on the city for an “institute” matching young musicians with their elders. The institute will culminate in a 10-day festival, encompassing 10 venues and about a hundred pieces of music, many of them premieres.
Austria is a close neighbor of the Czech Republic, both geographically and historically, so it’s no wonder that the country is well represented in the Ostrava Days program. Read on for an overview of the Austria-based composers who will be played at this year’s festival…
Johannes Kalitzke
The Cologne- and Vienna-based artist will be serving as a conductor of the festival’s orchestral opening concert, which will feature his piece “Story Teller” (2015-2016).
Orchestra opening concert: Aug. 27, 6pm, Triple Hall Karolina
Bernhard Lang
This elder statesman of Austrian composers is represented with two works: a new solo piece for the sixth-tone harmonium, a microtonal organ invented between the First and Second World Wars. The Ostravská banda ensemble will also be performing his 2020 chamber opera Playing Trump, which features a libretto based on quotes from the controversial media star and former president.
Sixth-tone harmonium concert: Aug. 24, 6pm, St. Wenceslas Church
Playing Trump : Sept. 1, 7:30pm , Antonín Dvořák Theatre
Klaus Lang
This year’s festival features two premieres by Klaus Lang: a work for the sixth-tone harmonium and a new work for chamber ensemble entitled “april.”
Sixth-tone harmonium concert: Aug. 24, 6pm, St. Wenceslas Church
Solos & ensembles concert: Aug. 30, 8:30pm, City Campus (Univ. of Ostrava)
Matthias Kranebitter
The Cologne-based Ensemble Garage, with whom the maverick Vienna composer has a continuing relationship, will be performing his 2015 work “Concerto for the Invisible Hand (After Adam Smith)”.
Ensemble Garage: Aug. 30, 6:30pm, City Campus
Peter Ablinger
The Upper Austria-born, Berlin-based composer will be represented with a “site-specific” composition, “SCALES” (1997-2002), as part of a marathon evening of performances.
The Long Night: Sept. 1, 5pm – 1am, PLATO / Antonín Dvořák Theatre