The name ensemble courage stands for a group of young instrumentalists from Dresden, who in 1997 founded the group in order to establish an innovative and self-organised ensemble for contemporary music in Dresden. The first concerts the group performed were already met with great interest from both the public and the press, being praised both for the ambitious programmes and for the high quality of the interpretations.

ensemble courage is regularly invited by institutions such as the Saxon Society for New Music in Dresden and the Saxon Music Association. The first performance of Gerhard Stäbler’s project Changes was realised on commission from the Siemens Arts Program and was conducted as the prologue for the 13th Dresden Days of Contemporary Music in 1999. In 2001, the ensemble was booked for the opening concert of the Spring Days of Contemporary Music in Weimar and at the 15th Dresden Days of Contemporary Music, their programme “Positions” including first performances of commissioned works by young composers was presented. In November 2001, the ensemble performed at the Magnus Haus in Berlin where it was invited by the Siemens Arts Program, and for 2003, they have received an invitation to the Dresden Music Festival. Concerts performed by the ensemble were broadcast by MDR and SFB.

The main focus of the ensemble’s repertoire is on works from promising international young composers. New, unconventional forms of concerts have their equal place next to dramaturgically and thematically well-planned “normal” chamber music programmes.

Composer Benjamin Schweitzer is artistic and organisational head of ensemble courage, and since 2000, Titus Engel is its conductor.

Phonography: "AUFTAKT - Prokekt21"

Homepage: www.ensemble-courage.de