Introduction

Bang on a Can All-Stars was founded in 1992 as part of the New York-based music institution Bang on a Can, dedicated to performing contemporary music in its full spectrum. Bang on a Can, established in 1987 by composers David Lang, Julia Wolfe, and Michael Gordon, is known as a melting pot of musical genres. In the All-Stars’ programs, classical, contemporary, jazz, rock, avant-garde, and world music do not merely coexist – their minimalist yet maximalist, visually striking concert experiences reveal the artificiality of genre boundaries, making the audience question where the limits are and how to break them. Through concerts and award-winning recordings, Bang on a Can All-Stars continuously takes listeners to the unexplored edges of music.

Now, after more than two decades, Bang on a Can All-Stars returns to Helsinki. In the Erkko Hall at Tanssin talo, the ensemble will perform a selection of classic works by its founders Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe, as well as pieces by both legendary and emerging stars of the New York contemporary music scene: Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Angélica Negrón, Steve Martland, and Henry Threadgill.

The event is organized by the Helsinki Festival.