ensemble freymut

In 2024, ensemble freymut is a proud member of REMA – European Early Music Network. In the 2022|23 season, the group was the Featured Ensemble of Jeunesse Austria. As part of this cooperation, the ensemble performed 15 concerts in different formats throughout Austria. In January 2023, it made its debut at the festival “Resonanzen” at the Wiener Konzerthaus with its children’s program “Freyen Muthes durch die Welt”. In early July 2021, ensemble freymut was awarded the WDR Prize at the International H.I.F. Biber Competition for its performance with singer Johanna Falkinger. The musicians accepted the invitation of Westdeutscher Rundfunk and were guests at WDR3 Funkhauskonzert in February 2022 with their French program “Le Triomfe”.

In its current project, “The Future of the Past | Homage to Sara Levy”, ensemble freymut combines compositions from the 18th century with contemporary music by Daniel Serrano. Another project – “Dazzling Sounds in the Darkness | Dülon’s World” – draws on the exciting life story of the blind flautist Friedrich Ludwig Dülon (1769 – 1826) for a musically sensual journey through darkness, sonic experience, and light. With the 2023 season, the ensemble assumed the artistic direction of ViertelBarock, the OPEN AIR festival for baroque music in Vienna’s Servitenviertel. Furthermore, the ensemble performed at the Telemann Center in Magdeburg and opened the Festival Fête Baroque in CMA Ossiach. In September 2023, ensemble freymut celebrated its debut in Asia with two concerts in Chuncheon, South Korea.

The musicians have received musical coaching and ensemble lessons from Stefan Gottfried, Johannes Weiss, Augusta Campagne, and Wolfgang Glüxam, among others. They continue to receive new ideas and inspiration from master classes with Barthold Kuijken, Christophe Coin, and Anna Besson. The ensemble has received scholarships from the Werner Tripp Memorial Fund, the Gordon Murray Foundation, and is a prize winner of the International Berlin-Bach Competition. The name freymut is both a message and a mission: writers of the 18th century often resorted to pseudonyms in order to share their thoughts freely with the public. In this sense, it requires ‘frank bravery’ (freyen Muth) to publish a work with a critical message. Likewise, it requires honest courage to interpret music in a fresh and original way. This idea accompanies and inspires the musicians in their artistic work.