TonLagen

New Music is one of the most productive fields of contemporary art. In 2009 the annual festival of contemporary music at the Festspielhaus Hellerau in Dresden began exploring new ways of promoting the diversity and innovative spirit of New Music. “Popular” was the motto of the 2010 festival – an almost offensive word in the field of contemporary music. In cooperation with the Dresden-based partners KlangNetz Dresden and the New Music Network, the festival organizers have developed a programme which links New Music to other art forms, like dance, New Media and the fine arts, as well as opens a door to pop music and club music.
A wide variety of productions participated at this year’s festival, including New Music pioneers from the 1950s and 1960s, the newest experiments in electronic music, performances, experimental jazz and installations. The idea of opening a door to other genres has been quite successful. In 2009 the TonLagen Festival saw a 30-percent rise in audience attendance over the previous year – particularly among festival goers under 30.

Artistic director: Dieter Jaenicke
Artists: Dresdner Philharmonie, Ensemble Courage, Morton Subotnik (USA), Michael Wertmüller, Steamboat Switzerland (CH), Ginette Laurin (CA), O Vertigo (CA), Michael Nyman (USA), Asolta, Jennifer Walshe (GB), Komponistenklasse Dresden, Ensemble Resonanz, Beat Furrer (AT), Ulf Langenheinrich, Wendy Carlos (USA), HK Gruber (AT), Andy Warhol (USA), Fusedmarc (LT) and others

Venue and schedule:
Festspielhaus Hellerau, Dresden, 1 – 16 October 2010