Prague Offspring: Ensemble Modern I

Two key works by Unsuk Chin, Iannis Xenakis’s famous Rebonds, and a world premiere from Michal Nejtek. Ensemble Modern is conducted by Ilan Volkov.

The performance given by Ensemble Modern at Prague Offspring 2025 was simply sensational. “To be left speechless by their artistry as players […] is entirely irrelevant, given that this is one of the finest ensembles in the world specialising in contemporary music,” wrote a critic on the KlasikaPlus website. “Yet it has to be said that perhaps no-one present was prepared for the level of expressivity and the resoluteness with which they performed the works (which were in certain places extremely difficult).” In 2026 the ensemble returns to the Prague Spring to take up their residency for a second year, and on this occasion they bring with them one of the most distinctive figures on the contemporary music scene, South Korean composer Unsuk Chin. This artist, who has received the highest honours any living composer could attain, states that music is “a reflection of my dreams […] a play of light and colours floating through the room”. The first Prague Offspring concert presents two of her key compositions: Akrostichon-Wortspiel from 1991 and Double Concerto for piano, percussion and ensemble from 2002. The programme also features the famous piece Rebonds by Greek-French composer Iannis Xenakis and the world premiere of a new, extensive composition commissioned by the Prague Spring from Czech composer Michal Nejtek. This time Ensemble Modern will be conducted by Ilan Volkov, regarded as one of the greatest living authorities on contemporary music.

Tickets: 700 CZK