This project offers a rare opportunity to admire the richness of the rapidly growing music scene in Central Asia. The concert will be accompanied by a panel discussion.

Adam, the eternal traveler, walks the cyclical journey where the forces of light and shadow intertwine, shaping his spirit. Each step through this labyrinth leaves an indelible mark, guiding him toward a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. His soul, like a canvas, is painted with the wisdom of trials faced and overcome, revealing the essence of “Adam bol!” — “Be a Human!” This moral code, a compass through the ages, has been his guiding light, a beacon in the fog of uncertainty and turmoil. But now, as Adam faces the tempest of our time, a storm that threatens to erode the core of his being, the clarity of his moral compass begins to fade. He stands at the threshold of two worlds: one path beckons him back to his origins, to the roots that once nourished his soul and promises a rebirth of spirit; the other lures him into an uncharted future, a realm where he may either rediscover himself or risk losing the essence of his humanity. Ensemble Mosaik carefully gathers the fragments of Adam’s spiritual world, weaving them into a new narrative, creating a renewed understanding of what it means to be human, in a world that is constantly shifting and redefining itself.

Dedicated to Bettina Junge (1968-2024)
Artistic Director of ensemble mosaik (1997-2024)

Performers:

ensemble mosaik
Kristjana Helgadottir, flute
Simon Strasser, oboe
Christian Vogel, clarinet
Ruth Velten, saxophone
Roland Neffe, percussion
Ernst Surberg, piano/keyboard
Sarah Saviet, violin
Chatschatur Kanajan, violin
Karen Lorenz, viola
Mathis Mayr, cello
Niklas Seidl, cello
Rebecca Lawrence, contrabass
Arne Vierck, sound/electronics

Magnus Loddgard, conductor

Soloists:
Eldar Tagi, daxophone
Sergej Tchirkov, bayan
Natalia Pschenitschnikova, voice

Duo Falak
Denis Sorokin, guitar
Shohin Qurbonov, doyra drum

Video: Ardak Mukanova
Klara Janina Luckow
Panel Moderator:
AI Adam (ArtTech Garden Berlin)
Dramaturg: Mira Tulenova

With support of: Goethe-Institut
and German Federal Foreign Office

Founded in 1997, ensemble mosaik has evolved to become a particularly diverse and experimental formation in the field of contemporary music. Beyond their outstanding instrumental skills they display creative individuality and a never-ending joy in experiments. In years of tight cooperation they have created an entity of sound that is highest ranking both in artistic competence and openness to the most diverse concepts of contemporary music. Close cooperation with up-and-coming composers and the tying in of digital media are key to the ensembles work in composition, interpretation and presentation. It prefers an egalitarian workflow between all participants in a project. ensemble mosaik has cooperated with many composers over the years, thus enhancing a musical development in mutuality.

DUO FALAK
performers

Duo Falak, a project by Denis Sorokin and Shokhin Qurbonov, offers a new perspective on the traditional Tajik music genre Falak in the context of contemporary music. Recognized on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, Falak is a monodic form traditionally performed by a soloist, either a cappella or with a single instrument like the dutar or rubab. Originating in the pre-Islamic era of the Pamir region, Falak explores profound existential questions: Who are we? Where are we? Why are we? The term "Falak" translates to "heaven," "fate," and "universe," capturing the genre's spiritual depth. Through their new approach to the tradition, using guitar and doyra, Sorokin and Qurbonov present Falak as a living, evolving tradition.

ELENA RYKOVA
composer

Elena Rykova is a composer and performance artist originally from Bashkortostan, who ingeniously blends chamber music with interdisciplinary art and electroacoustic innovations. Known for her creative use of found objects and experimental notation, Rykova's compositions offer vivid performative experiences that challenge traditional perceptions. Her works have been performed by leading ensembles around the world, and her scores have been exhibited in prestigious art museums. Elena holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and is currently the Artistic Director of the Basel-based ensemble Lemniscate, continuing her creative activities in Europe.

JAMILIA JAZYLBEKOVA
composer

Jamilia Jazylbekova, born in Kazakhstan, studied flute and piano at the State School of Music in Almaty and composition at the Moscow State Conservatory. She furthered her studies at Bremen University of the Arts with a DAAD scholarship. Her works have been featured at numerous festivals across Europe, the USA, Canada, and the CIS. Jamilia has received commissions from prestigious institutions, including the Theater and Philharmonic Orchestra of Heidelberg, MaerzMusik Festival, Deutschlandfunk, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Ensemble Remix, Casa da Música Porto, Imago-Dei Festival Krems, the Berlin Biennale, the Senates of Berlin and Bremen, Ensemble Courage, Ensemble Intégrales, Nieuw Ensemble, de ereprijs orkest, the city of Oldenburg, the International Gaudeamus Music Week, and the Basler Musikmonat. Currently residing in Germany, Jamilia Jazylbekova is not only an accomplished composer but also an active singer, flutist, and pianist.

AZIZA SADIKOVA
composer

Aziza Sadikova, a visionary composer from Uzbekistan, began her musical education at the Uspensky Special Music School, where she studied piano and composition, and later refined her skills at the Tashkent State Conservatory. She advanced her studies in composition and organ at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity College of Music in London. Sadikova's innovative compositions have been performed at major international venues such as BACHFEST, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, and Wien Modern. She has received commissions from prestigious institutions, including the BBC Proms, Deutsche Philharmonie Bremen, and the Hamburg Philharmonic, often under the baton of maestros like Kent Nagano. Currently residing in Germany, Aziza Sadikova is celebrated for her contemporary music approach, continuously pushing the boundaries between traditional and modern sounds.

BALASAGYN MUSAEV
composer

Balasagyn Musaev, an acclaimed composer from Kyrgyzstan, embarked on his musical journey as a pianist in Bishkek before honing his compositional skills under the guidance of Vladimir Tarnopolski at the Moscow Conservatory. Currently teaching at the Kyrgyz National Conservatory, he contributes significantly to the cultural landscape of Central Asia. Musaev has earned multiple national and international awards. At the Voices Festival, Musaev will present Кыямат, a powerful and introspective work rooted in the poetry of his parents, written in the Kyrgyz language. This composition represents a deeply personal exploration of heritage, identity, and artistic expression.

SANZHAR BAITEREKOV
composer

Sanzhar Baiterekov, a distinguished composer from Kazakhstan, honed his skills in piano at the Almaty Music College and later in composition at the Moscow State Conservatory. A laureate of numerous national and international awards, Baiterekov's innovative works have been commissioned by esteemed ensembles such as Collegium Novum Zürich, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Pre-arte Convergence, and GAM ensemble, affirming his status as a significant voice in contemporary music. Currently serving as the artistic director of the Eegeru ensemble, Baiterekov is at the forefront of shaping the new music landscape in Central Asia, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and innovation.

AIGERIM SEILOVA
composer

Aigerim Seilova, a Kazakh composer, performer, and media artist based in Hamburg, won the 2019 Hindemith Prize at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. She studied composition at the Moscow Conservatory and multimedia composition at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama. Her works, blending audio, video, and electronics, have been performed by ensembles like the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Modern. In 2016, she was a Composition Fellow at Tanglewood. Currently, Seilova is pursuing a doctorate in artistic research, pushing the boundaries of contemporary composition.

SEHYUNG KIM
composer

Sehyung (Sergey) Kim, originally from Kazakhstan, graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. His mentors included renowned composers such as Beat Furrer, Pierluigi Billone, and Bernhard Lang. Kim has written works in various genres, from solo pieces and improvised music to orchestral works and music theater, for which he has received numerous prizes and awards in Austria, Germany, France, the United States, and Russia. He has received commissions from various institutions such as Impuls, ORF, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Deutsche Bank Stiftung, and has collaborated with ensembles like Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Modern, Musikfabrik, and ensemble PHACE. In addition to his creative pursuits, Kim contributes to academia as a lecturer at the University of Graz, where he shares his expertise on composition and the music traditions of the Global South and Asia.