Luxembourg Sinfonietta
Encyclopedia
The Luxembourg Sinfonietta is an orchestral ensemble for contemporary music in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
. Initially it consisted of 10 to 15 instruments, including tuba, accordion, mandolin and harpsichord but now typically extends to clarinet, clarinet bass, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, horn, trumpets, tenor trombone, tuba, violins, viola, violoncello, piano, mandolin, accordion and percussion.
, it strives to make contemporary music more generally accessible while promoting Luxembourg composers, especially to foreign audiences. Key events here have been performances at the ISCM
"World Music Days 2000" in Luxembourg and at Expo 2000
in Hanover
. The Sinfonietta not only gives first time performances of contemporary works but also plays classics from the past century as well as its own orchestrations of existing works. As its repertoire covers all the most significant contemporary composers, the orchestra has been invited to a number of international festivals and has played in Germany
, France
, Switzerland
, Romania
and the Czech Republic
. It also participated in the "World Music Days 2007" in Hong Kong
and travelled to Beijing
and Chengdu
during its China tour in 2008.
The prizewinners have been:
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. Initially it consisted of 10 to 15 instruments, including tuba, accordion, mandolin and harpsichord but now typically extends to clarinet, clarinet bass, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, horn, trumpets, tenor trombone, tuba, violins, viola, violoncello, piano, mandolin, accordion and percussion.
History
Founded in 1999 by the Luxembourg composer Marcel WenglerMarcel Wengler
Marcel Wengler is a Luxembourg composer and conductor. He also plays the guitar and the mandolin. From 1972–1997, he headed the Conservatoire de Luxembourg. Since 2000, he has been director of the Luxembourg Music Information Centre...
, it strives to make contemporary music more generally accessible while promoting Luxembourg composers, especially to foreign audiences. Key events here have been performances at the ISCM
International Society for Contemporary Music
The International Society for Contemporary Music is a music organization that promotes contemporary classical music.ISCM was established in 1922, in Salzburg. Its core activity is the World Music Days Festival, held every year at a different location. The festival includes cutting edge productions...
"World Music Days 2000" in Luxembourg and at Expo 2000
Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. The Sinfonietta not only gives first time performances of contemporary works but also plays classics from the past century as well as its own orchestrations of existing works. As its repertoire covers all the most significant contemporary composers, the orchestra has been invited to a number of international festivals and has played in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It also participated in the "World Music Days 2007" in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and travelled to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
during its China tour in 2008.
International composition competition
Since 2001, the Sinfonietta has arranged an annual international composition which has done much to establish Luxembourg as a European centre for musical innovation. Composers from all over the world are invited to compose new works for the Sinfonietta. Typically, some 150 composers from more than 40 countries take part each year. In this context, over 950 works have now been specially composed for the Luxembourg Sinfonietta.The prizewinners have been:
- 2002: First prize: Ittetsu ShimizuIttetsu Shimizu-Biography:Born in Yokohama in 1976, Shimizu studied music and composition at the Shobi Conservatory in Tokyo. After winning the composition prize of the Japan Music Association in 1999, he went on to win the International Composition Competition, Luxembourg, in 2002.-Discography:*"International...
(Japan), "Suspiria de Profundis"; second prize: Carsten Hennig (Germany), "Ausflug nach Sing-Sing"; third prize: Stéphane Altier (France), "Treize Fragments de la Danse".
- 2003: First prize: Francisco LaraFrancisco LaraFrancisco Lara Tejero is a Spanish composer and conductor of classical music.-Early life and education:Born in Valladolid, Spain, in 1968, Lara studied at the Madrid Royal Conservatory where he graduated in 1990...
(Spain), second prize: Patrick HarrexPatrick HarrexPatrick Harrex is a British contemporary classical music composer based in Brighton.Harrex studied Music & Education at York University and won first prize in the 1968 BBC Composers’ Competition...
(England), third prize: Cristian Marina (Sweden).
- 2004: First prize: Chañaral Ortega-MirandaChañaral Ortega-MirandaChañaral Ortega-Miranda is a Chilean composer of classical music.Born in Arica, Chile, in 1973, Ortega-Miranda was exiled in France for the first six years of his life. After studying musical theory and composition in Buenos Aires from 1989 to 1993, he attended Sergio Ortega's composition classes...
(Chile), second prize: Lin Wang (China), third prize: Satoru Ikeda (Japan).
- 2005: First prize: Cristina Pascual (Spain), second prize: Ezequiel Menalled (Argentina), third prize: Maiko Nakao (Japan) and Frank Zabel (Germany).
- 2006: First prize: Barnaby Hollington (Great Britain), second prize: Alexander ShchetynskyAlexander ShchetynskyAlexander Shchetynsky is a Ukrainian composer. Born on 22 June 1960 in Kharkiv, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union. His work list includes compositions in various forms ranging from solo instrumental to orchestral, choral pieces and operas....
(Ukraine), third prize: Maki Nakajima (Japan).
- 2007: First prize: Nicholas CasswellNicholas CasswellNicholas Casswell is a British composer specializing in chamber music.-Biography:Born on 25 July 1974 in London, Cassell studied at the Dartington College of Arts in Devon and at the University of York . Thereafter he completed his PhD studies in composition at the University of Leeds...
(Great Britain), second prize: Robert Lemay (Canada), third prize: Akihiro Kano (Japan), fourth prize: Gordon HamiltonGordon Hamilton (composer)Gordon Hamilton is an Australian composer and conductor. Since 2009, he has been the Artistic Director of The Australian Voices. He was born in Newcastle, lived and worked in Bremen, Germany for five years as a conductor and composer and he now lives in Brisbane.He studied in Australia at the...
(Australia).
- 2008: First prize: Huang RuoHuang RuoHuang Ruo, sometimes known as Ruo Huang is a Chinese-born American composer, pianist and vocalist who now lives in the United States.-Biography:...
(USA), second prize: Lan-chee Lam (Canada), third prize: Kee Yong Chong (Malaysia), fourth prize: Xiaozhong Yang (China).
- 2009: First prize: Zhenzhen Zhang (China), second prize: Takahiro Sakuma (Japan), third prize Pui-shan Cheung (Hong Kong), fourth prize Miguel Farias (Chile).
Discography
- "World Premiere Recordings": Lisa Reim, "Tiger’s cry"; Luca Vanneschi, "Maqam"; Pierre Couprie, "Ainsi, toujours, vers l’azur"; Tony K.T. Leung, "Seven trumpets of the Seven Angels", Lars Graugaard, "Fractured Waves"; Jean-Luc Darbellay, "Lux"; Andreas Pflüger, "Contrasts"; "Serban Nichifor", La Nuit Obscure. Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 401.
- "International Composition Prize 2002, World Premiere Recordings": Carsten Hennig, "Ausflug nach Sing-Sing"; Stéphane Altier, "Treize Fragments de la Danse"; Nicholas Sackman, "Ballo"; Thoma Simaku, "Luxonorité"; Ittetsu Shimizu, "Suspiria de Profundis"; Carlos Satué, "Mizar-Alcor". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 402.
- "International Composition Prize 2003, World Premiere Recordings": Francisco Lara, "Dust"; Patrick Harrex, "Hauptweg und Nebenwege"; Cristian Marina, "Density - Intensity"; Paul Robinson, "Chamber Concerto"; Kyung-Jin Han, "Dancing on a Bamboo"; Marco Carnevalini, "Riflessioni sul giallo e sul blu". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 403.
- "International Composition Prize 2004, World Premiere Recordings": Chañaral Ortega-Miranda, "Q'inti"; Lin Wang, "Lin Lang"; Satoru Ikeda, "Fireworks"; Matteo Franceschini, "Làbara"; Jonathan Eato, "Bling Bling Balaam". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 404.
- "International Composition Prize 2005, World Premiere Recordings": Maiko Nakao, "naminoyo"; Cristina Pascual, "Magnetism"; Ezequiel Menalled, "and everything was death"; Frank Zabel, "Chant de la Lave"; Lorenc Xhuvani, "di tenue vivo chiarore". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 405.
- "International Composition Prize Luxembourg 2006, World Premiere Recordings, New Works for Solo-Piano and Orchestra: Alice Ho, "Angst II"; Barnaby Hollington, "Mechanical Avunculogratulation"; Alexander Shchetynsky, "Chamber Concerto"; Maki Nakajima, "passing rain"; Iain Matheson, "Equal Parts". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Soloists: Zénon Bialas, Annie Kraus, Pascal Meyer, Xenia Pestova. Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 406.
- "International Composition Prize Luxembourg 2007, World Premiere Recordings": Nicholas Casswell, "Triplicity"; Robert Lemay, "Mare Tranquilitatis III"; Akihiro Kano, "The Fifth Station"; Gordon Hamilton, "Sinfonietta Concertante". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 407.
- International Composition Prize Luxembourg 2008, World Premiere Recordings, New Works for Solo-Sheng and Orchestra": Huang Ruo, "MO"; Lan-chee Lam, "Threnody for the Earth"; Kee Yong Chong, "Phoenix calling"; Xiaozhong Yang, "Horsetail Whisk II", Lok-yin Tang, "It is What it is!"; Stephen Yip, "Six Paths". Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Soloist: Wu Wei, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 408.
- "International Composition Prize, Luxembourg 2009": Pui-shan Cheung, "Chi’en III"; Miguel Farias, "Acier"; Takahiro Sakuma, "Against the Current", Zhenzhen Zhang, "Xiang"; Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Conductor: Marcel Wengler. CD LGNM No 104.