Stockhausen-Concerts Kürten 2019

Stockhausen Foundation for Music, Kürten, Germany


Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928–2007) is one of the most significant composers of the 20^th century and one whose creativity is marked by numerous innovations. The performances of his works continue to place the highest demands on those active in the music business: be this the musical challenges for the performers or the logistical ones for concert organizers. For 20 years now the goal of the concert series Stockhausen-Konzerte Kürten has been to meet all these demands and perform Karlheinz Stockhausen’s works under optimum conditions and in the highest quality. In keeping with the purpose of the Stockhausen Foundation for Music, the aim is to help “maintain Karlheinz Stockhausen’s œuvre and legacy and conserve and propagate his intellectual heritage”. In concrete terms, this means: extensive rehearsal work, the technical construction of a multi-channel sound system with state-of-the-art equipment by a team of technical experts who have worked with Stockhausen for decades and the commitment of renowned Stockhausen specialists who have developed the music’s interpretation in collaboration with and by the composer and have performed the respective premieres of the works. This ensures faithfulness to the original works and authentic performance practice. For the first time in 2019, there will also be a cooperation with the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag, where it has been possible, since 2017, to study Stockhausen’s LIGHT operas leading to a “Stockhausen” master’s degree.

The program features nine evenings of instrumental, vocal and electronic works by Karlheinz Stockhausen. Highlights in the program include a performance of octophony, the 8-channel electronic music from the opera Tuesday from LICHT using its special cubic loudspeaker arrangement featuring the scenes Pietà and Synthi-Fou, performance of Inori by four dancers/mime artists, who, as scholarship holders of the Lucerne Festival Academy, spent a year studying the ritual movement sequences and their own notation developed by Stockhausen, as well as a performance of Stimmung for six vocalists by Ensemble SoloVoices, who were taught by members of the premiere line-up. The event will be held in Kürten, Stockhausen’s idyllic rural home town, about 30 km east of Cologne in the Bergisches Land region. The aim of the Stockhausen Concerts Kürten is to preserve and disseminate the musical heritage of Karlheinz Stockhausen, in keeping with the purpose of the Stockhausen Foundation for Music. Faithfulness to the original and authentic performance practice are of paramount importance. In order to give the general public the chance to familiarize themselves with Karlheinz Stockhausen’s music, the concerts will once again be held free of charge and also include concert introductions.


July 27 to August 4, 2019
Sülztalhalle Kürten, Germany


Further Information:
karlheinzstockhausen.org