SUPSI Conservatory: with “900presente”, 25 years of modern and contemporary music

The Conservatory of Italian Switzerland celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of the season of modern and contemporary music, 900 present, in collaboration with RSI Rete Due. This special anniversary will be commemorated through a program of five concerts which will take place from November 2023 to April 2024, with the participation of 14 twentieth century authors. This exceptional season bears witness to the artistic eclecticism of the past 130 years. Furthermore, for the first time, a symposium was organized to explore current issues related to the world of modern and contemporary music, from teaching to production, from publishing to dissemination through the media.

History of 900 present

The season of modern and contemporary music 900 present, now in its twenty-fifth edition, was born in 1999 thanks to the idea of ​​Giorgio Bernasconi (1944-2010), conductor and professor of conducting at the Conservatory of Italian Switzerland, and Carlo Piccardi, a musicologist and then Director of RSI Cultural Programs. Bernasconi had in mind a project that combined pedagogical and artistic aspects. This project should have involved students of the University School of Music in the exploration of twentieth-century authors and, at the same time, should have been accessible to the public. Thanks to the collaboration with RSI's Rete Due, 900presente (at the time called “Novecento past and present”) emerged as a participatory journey through a nuanced century of music, becoming one of the most innovative musical seasons in Switzerland.

Over the course of its twenty-five year history, 900presente, through the Ensemble900 composed of students from the CSI University School of Music, has staged over 150 concert and theatrical productions, exploring compositions by over 200 authors. The season also hosted internationally renowned composers such as Harrison Birtwistle, Sylvano Bussotti, Stefano Gervasoni, Klaus Huber, Philippe Manoury, Betsy Jolas, Rudolf Kelterborn, Helmut Lachenmann, Salvatore Sciarrino and Heiner Goebbels. In collaboration with the Dimitri Theater Academy and the SUPSI Degree Course in Visual Communication, more than ten editions of the “SUPSI Arts” project were created, which involved three schools in multimedia shows ranging from pantomime to dance to theater experimental. Furthermore, a notable number of radio plays and theatrical works were produced in collaboration with the RSI Audio Fiction Sector.

The Future of 900 present

Christoph Brenner, General Director of the Fondazione Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, underlined the importance of 900presente Oggi as a season of relevance and attraction for new students. The season grew thanks to the enthusiasm and support of the teachers, students and all those who worked around 900present. The leadership of Arturo Tamayo, who took over the direction of the season in a difficult moment after the passing of Bernasconi, was fundamental to its consolidation and its future.

Season 900 present it is characterized by an artistic curiosity and constant attention to the diversity of twentieth-century authors. This reflects its pedagogical objective of offering students a broad overview of twentieth-century authors, thus enriching their education. The season offers audiences the opportunity to discover previously unheard authors, trends and works, while also serving as a platform to commission new works.

In addition to the concerts, the symposium “900present: a future retrospective” was organized this year. The symposium will bring together music industry experts to discuss the educational value of modern and contemporary repertoire, the challenges of music publishing and music dissemination through the media.

Concerts for 900 present

The season of 900 present will present a series of eclectic concerts, with a variety of authors and styles. The first concert, “L'Homme et son désir,” is a fascinating show with music by Darius Milhaud and Francis Poulenc, with the participation of actors from the Dimitri Theater Academy. The second concert, “Aventures,” celebrates the centenary of Hungarian composer György Ligeti. The third concert, “Kammermusik (Occasions),” pays homage to four illustrious figures of the twentieth century with music by Arnold Schönberg, Paul Hindemith, Luigi Nono and Klaus Huber. The fourth concert, “Prélude,” offers a journey through different musical eras, from Debussy to John Adams. Finally, the season ends with the concert “A Symphony of Horror, Nosferatu,” accompanied by the screening of the film “Nosferatu the Vampire” by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau.

The symposium “900 present: a future retrospective”

The symposium “900 present: a future retrospective” is a moment of reflection on the past and future of 900presente. Experts in the sector will discuss the educational value of the modern and contemporary repertoire, the challenges of music publishing and music dissemination through the media. This event creates a unique opportunity for a comparison between different perspectives and to imagine new paths and shared projects.

In conclusion, the twenty-fifth season of 900 present is a tribute to the past, present and future of modern and contemporary music. Its success story and continuous search for innovation make it a pillar in the field of Swiss and international music.