Asko Ensemble

The Asko Ensemble is a trailblazing Dutch contemporary music group based in Amsterdam, known for fearlessly diving into the wildest corners of 20th and 21st-century classical works. Founded in the 1960s, this adventurous crew has become a go-to force for complex, boundary-pushing compositions, often collaborating directly with living composers like Louis Andriessen (they premiered his opera *Writing to Vermeer*) and Tod Machover. Their performances at venues like the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ and festivals like Milano Musica showcase their knack for bringing thorny modernist masterpieces – from Varèse’s explosive sound worlds to Grisey’s spectral odyssey *Les Espaces Acoustiques* – to vivid, visceral life.

With a flexible lineup that morphs to fit each piece’s demands, Asko thrives on challenges – whether resurrecting Xenakis’s mathematical fury, unpacking Berio’s playful collages, or tackling new operas-in-progress like *Moving*. Their live recording series captures their electric stage energy, proving they’re not just archivists of avant-garde history but active shapers of its future. When they’re not dissecting works by giants like Donatoni or Goehr, you’ll find them breathing fire into today’s most daring compositional experiments.

Genres

Avant-garde

Latest Release

Live 3: Edgard Varèse

Edgard Varèse•

Asko Ensemble

Album - 10 Tracks - Released September 13, 2024