Donaueschingen fights against male dominance
Björn Gottstein, the new artistic director of the Donaueschingen Music Days, wants to actively ensure that women composers are given a greater voice. He is convinced that their share of current music production is still far too small. This year's Musiktage program proves him right.
"Since its foundation, the Donaueschingen Music Days have been dominated by male composers, the proportion of women is negligible," the German Press Agency quotes Gottstein, who took over from the late Armin Köhler. There are now concrete plans to give the popular new music festival a more feminine touch.
In the current edition of the festival - which takes place from October 16 to 18 and is already sold out - Olga Neuwirth is the only composer represented. She has analyzed the sound spaces of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice in the electronic studio and transformed them musically.
From October 16 to 18, the Donaueschingen Music Days 2015 will shed light on the relationship between new music and classical tradition with 18 world premieres and four sound installations.
