Composition Commissions issued to Gourzi, Gubaidulina, Coates and Castilla-Avila

Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau

The Passau European Music Festival was already founded in 1952 by American cultural affairs officers and is held annually in the months of June and July. With a different motto each year the audience is given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with an arts topic in the field of music, theater, dance, literature, film and fine art. The 58th Passau European Music Festival in 2010 has the motto "Frauen gestalten…" (Women Create…). The performance of contemporary music has for years now been a fixture in the festival program and numerous productions have been commissioned and performed here for the first time. With the support of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation four composition commissions were issued for 2010 which, in tune with this year’s motto, particularly highlight the creativity of contemporary female composers. Greek composer Konstantia Gourzi and Sofia Gubaidulina each received a commission to compose for a piece for two guitars, viola and double bass that will be performed for the first time by the Ensemble Mobile. American composer Gloria Coates will elaborate a piece of ballet music for percussion inspired by Jean Cocteau’s "La Voix Humaine". Agustin Castilla-Avila will compose a chamber opera inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ novel "Don Quijote de la Mancha".

June 10th – July 18th 2010
Passau

Further Information:
www.ew-passau.de