Happy New Ears

John Cage once wished his audience "Happy new Ears". In the Ensemble Modern's subscription series of the same name, the musicians, supported by contemporary composers, attempt to make New Music a positive listening experience. Has music become so alienated from the listener that we really need "new ears" in order to find pleasure in listening to New Music? In the series, composers or conductors try out their own works with the Ensemble Modern at workshop concerts in the Frankfurt Opera House. In discussion with musicians, musicologists and other experts, individual passages from the works are initially rehearsed and then explained and placed in their context. Very often other background information is brought into the discussion, as well as other media (films, lectures etc.) and only then is the entire work performed. The first series was held in 1993 at the initiation of Professor Hans Zender who also often acted as presenter for the concerts.