The Giacinto Scelsi Festival Basel is a platform that invites people to experience the transformative power of music. Founded in 2014 by pianist, composer, and Scelsi expert Marianne Schroeder, the festival is a vibrant expression of the philosophy and sound world of the composer after whom it is named. Scelsi’s music challenges listeners to experience sound not as a static work but as a constantly unfolding process.
 

“You discover yourself! What have you seen?”

– This thought runs through the festival, making it an event that goes far beyond the music. Musicians, audiences, and the city engage in a dialogue that creates space for new perspectives and enables creative discoveries.
 

Basel, a city with a deeply rooted tradition in contemporary music, provides the ideal home for this festival. This rich musical history has been shaped by visionary figures such as Paul Sacher, who made Basel an international center for the avant-garde. The festival sees itself as a continuation of this legacy, aiming to keep this tradition alive and thriving. Its main venue, the Don Bosco Cultural Center, offers an inspiring setting with its impressive acoustics and architectural clarity, bringing Scelsi’s music to life.

The festival’s artistic vision goes beyond mere performances. It engages with the question of how Scelsi’s ideas—such as the openness to improvisation and the appreciation of sound as an organic experience—can be implemented in today’s music practice. A key aspect is the festival’s commitment to giving the rehearsal process space and depth. In a time when productions are often shaped by tight schedules, the festival places importance on carefully crafting the sound in all its nuances. This dedication to the creative process reflects Scelsi’s wish for music to be understood as a living, creative act.

Marianne Schroeder, with her wealth of experience and close connection to Scelsi’s work, brings a special depth to the festival. As a long-time companion and interpreter of Scelsi’s music, she has integrated his philosophy into her own artistic approach. Her commitment makes the festival a place where Scelsi’s musical legacy is not only preserved but reinterpreted and developed further.

The history of the festival is marked by special moments and a deep connection to the city of Basel. It is a meeting place where art transcends itself, and the audience finds a new connection to themselves. The concerts resonate and remain powerful experiences in memory.

The Giacinto Scelsi Festival Basel is an invitation: It invites you to discover new sounds, pause, and experience the power of music in its purest form. It embodies the idea that music should not only be heard but felt, shared, and experienced in the moment.