The Klangwerkstatt Berlin, founded in 1990 by the composer Peter Ablinger in Kreuzberg, is the largest and oldest independent festival of contemporary music in Berlin. Every year in November, over a week and a half, about 20-25 concerts, performances and multimedia formats with numerous world and German premieres take place. In the course of the festival’s more than thirty-year history, about 1800 pieces have been performed, around 800 of them world premieres. It is one of the most important world premiere festivals in Berlin and beyond. The festival has repeatedly contributed or initialized important contributions to the central discourses of New Music.

The name “Werkstatt” (i.e. something between laboratory and workspace) is programmatic: the festival is characterized by the courage to radical experimentation, the search for the future, and the greatest possible openness to new and to other art forms. At the same time the classical concert format is just as much a part of the concept as scenic spaces and audiovisual sound installations.

Almost all of Berlin's innovative New Music ensembles, which today provide essential impulses at international festivals and concert stages, were active at Klangwerkstatt Berlin early on and continue to shape the program to this day. In addition, there are ensembles from Germany and abroad who bring with them their very own aesthetic points of view. A special emphasis is placed on the collaboration with young ensembles and young composers. Many of today's internationally successful Berlin composers, instrumentalists and ensembles have been accompanied and supported by the Klangwerkstatt Berlin since their beginnings.

The Klangwerkstatt Berlin was founded at the Musikschule Kreuzberg and is still organized by the Freundeskreis of the music school as organizer. It sets impulses for participative projects and is a driving force in the development of advanced work with children and young people in the field of contemporary music. It attaches great importance to intergenerational cooperation in which professional musicians, students, young people and children meet as equals at eye level. The festival is unique in its combination of renowned performers, up-and-coming artists and amateurs. It cultivates long-term cooperations with universities, music schools, electronic studios and other contemporary music institutions.

More info: http://klangwerkstatt-berlin.de

Videos of all concerts since 2020 and more:

https://www.youtube.com/@KlangwerkstattBerlin