Winner of the OPUS Klassik 2021, Freigeist Ensemble is a courageous collective of supersonic soloists from German symphony orchestras that repackages super symphonic music for new audiences.

Often commissioning world premiere arrangements for innovative late-night projects, its mission is to revolutionise the style, sound and setting of classical concerts. This began in 2010 with “mini-Mahler” at Berlin’s Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal, followed by “Strauss 150: New Perspectives” at STATTBAD Berlin, “From Russia with Soul” at Griessmühle Berlin, “Bartók Beyond Borders” at Musikbrauerei Berlin and, most recently, “Late-Night Sinfonie” in collaboration with club partners in Hamburg and Berlin.

Artist collaborations have included RIAS Kammerchor, Sarah Connolly, Regula Mühlemann, Marlis Petersen, Christian Tetzlaff, Gerhild Romberger, Ferhan & Ferzan Önder, Tanja Tetzlaff, Ruth Ziesak and Elisa Carrillo Cabrera. Recent guest performances in Germany have included Musikfest @ Philharmonie Berlin (Stravinsky), Konzerthaus Berlin (Debussy), Dortmund Konzerthaus (Mussorgsky), Essener Philharmonie (Mahler), Kissinger Sommer (Bartók), Kasseler Musiktage (Mahler) and Rheingau Musik Festival (Bruckner), which have been combined with various concerts abroad including Mozarteum Salzburg (Prokofiev), Budapest Palace of Arts (Bartók), Auditorio Nacional Madrid (Mahler) and Zaryadye Hall Moscow (Shostakovich).

Freigeist Ensemble has been reviewed and featured widely in German media (such as with 3sat Kulturzeit, ZDF Aspekte, rbb Stilbruch and WDR 3) and has also recorded several live concerts for Deutschlandfunk Kultur, RBB Kulturradio, NDR Kultur and SWR Classic, as well as an award-winning debut CD, MAHLER 9 (ARS-Produktion). A follow-up recording – MAHLER 10 – was released in March 2021, receiving broad critical acclaim and four nominations for the OPUS Klassik 2021, resulting in the prestigious award for best chamber music recording.

Upcoming album releases in 2023-24 feature the ensemble’s new series of live audio and film concerts from the Meistersaal Berlin in collaboration with EuroArts.

Late updated: April 2023