Zafraan Ensemble

Zafraan stands for music that reflects all facets of life, society and reality today. In combination with other art forms, Zafraan observes, explores and processes that which surrounds us: people, events, nature and technology, the normalities and absurdities of today. The democratically-organised ensemble constitutes ten fixed members from Spain, France, New Zealand, Australia and Germany. It was founded in Berlin in 2009 and predominantly performs contemporary repertoire that is covered by its core instrumentation of violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, harp, piano and percussion. The group challenges itself and the audience; they experiment and surprise. In collaboration with conductors such as Titus Engels or Manuel Nawri, artists such as Chiharu Shiota, Aliénor Dauchez and Louise Wagner, and composers such as Samir Odeh-Tamimi, Alexander Schubert, Elena Mendoza, Stefan Keller, Johannes Borowski, Eres Holz and Helmut Oehring, they push at boundaries, provoke, take risks, and create something new. In doing this, Zafraan draws out the narrative power of music, enabling audiences to experience stories that have to be told.