Berlin – ‘Harpsichord and other Keys’ – 26 October 2019 – Akademie der Künste – Germany

The harpsichord is not the first instrument that comes to mind when we think of progressive, contemporary music. But the mind can deceive. In the 1970s and 1980s, György Ligeti, Iannis Xenakis and Luc Ferrari composed breathtaking works for this instrument.

And new, richly-faceted pieces have also emerged in recent years, many composed for harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, who performs worldwide. These include Intertwined Distances (2018) for harpsichord and electronics by Anahita Abbasi, which he will perform on the second concert day. Although Ligeti and Xenakis are part of the known canon, Luc Ferrari’s Programme Commun for harpsichord and tape recorder is a new discovery.
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Akademie der Künste
Hanseatenweg 10
10557 Berlin