Period

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Contemporary

 

Ostravská Banda is a contemporary classical music ensemble based in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The ensemble was founded in 1995 by conductor Petr Kotík and composer Zbyněk Vostřák. The group is known for its innovative and experimental approach to contemporary classical music, and has gained international recognition for its performances and recordings. The founding members of Ostravská Banda were all graduates of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, Czech Republic. The ensemble was formed with the goal of promoting contemporary classical music and exploring new approaches to composition and performance. The group's early performances were characterized by their unconventional instrumentation and use of extended techniques, which helped to establish the ensemble's reputation as a leading force in the contemporary classical music scene. Over the years, Ostravská Banda has collaborated with a wide range of composers and performers, including John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Christian Wolff. The ensemble has also commissioned numerous new works from emerging and established composers, and has premiered many of these works at major festivals and venues around the world. One of the highlights of Ostravská Banda's career was their performance of John Cage's "Song Books" at the 2002 Prague Spring Festival. The performance, which featured a cast of over 20 performers, was widely praised for its innovative staging and interpretation of Cage's work. The ensemble has also performed at other major festivals, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Donaueschingen Festival, and the Warsaw Autumn Festival. In addition to their live performances, Ostravská Banda has released several critically acclaimed recordings. Their 2005 album "Cage: The Number Pieces 2" was named one of the best classical recordings of the year by The New York Times, and their 2010 album "Feldman: For Philip Guston" was similarly praised for its sensitive and nuanced interpretation of Feldman's work. Ostravská Banda has received numerous awards and honors for their contributions to contemporary classical music. In 2005, the ensemble was awarded the Czech Music Council Prize for their outstanding contributions to Czech music. They have also been recognized by the International Society for Contemporary Music and the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation. Today, Ostravská Banda continues to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music, exploring new approaches to composition and performance and collaborating with some of the most innovative and exciting composers and performers working today. With their commitment to experimentation and innovation, the ensemble remains a vital force in the world of contemporary classical music.

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