The contemporary music festival Contempuls returns to the autumn cultural season after a five-year hiatus, offering a concentrated programme focused on the current landscape of contemporary music over three evenings at Atrium Žižkov. Each festival night will combine a solo and an ensemble concert, showcase leading performers from the Czech Republic and abroad, and feature three world premieres of works commissioned especially for the festival. Contempuls provides a unique opportunity to experience music being created right now, performed by outstanding figures of the contemporary music scene. Set within the intimate atmosphere of a chamber concert venue, the festival fosters a direct and engaging encounter with new musical ideas and artistic impulses. This year’s programme opens with German harpsichordist Richard Röbel, who will present the harpsichord in unexpected contemporary music contexts. He will be followed by a performance by the acclaimed Canadian saxophone quartet Quasar, culminating in the world premiere of a new work by Czech composer Michal Wróblewski. The second evening shifts the focus to the Czech contemporary music scene, featuring violinist David Danel and the Prague Modern ensemble. Their programme will include works by leading contemporary composers, highlighted by the premiere of a new composition by Ravi Kittappa. The festival’s closing night will be dedicated to Polish music. The legendary composer and pianist Zygmunt Krauze will present a unique project that combines improvisation with reflections on musical history, while the festival’s resident ensemble NeoQuartet will conclude this year’s edition with the world premiere of a new string quartet by Luboš Mrkvička. → Programme