Author: Sophie (Page 1 of 8)

English below 🙂

Es gibt wieder einiges zu erzählen, auch wenn es hier im Newsletter zuletzt etwas ruhiger war. In den vergangenen Monaten war ich viel unterwegs: Im April zum Beispiel mit der herrlich schrägen Musiktheaterproduktion Lissi & Herr Timpe in NRW und Niedersachsen. Außerdem habe ich in den Niederlanden mit einem großartigen neuen Trio improvisierte Musik aufgenommen, mehr dazu bald.

Ein großes Projekt ist abgeschlossen: Kaleidoscope Empathy ist fertig editiert. Kudos an Markus Wallner für die unermüdliche Arbeit und das präzise Hinhören. Mastering macht Markus Brändli.

Das Album erscheint im Oktober 2026 bei Hat Hut Records. Das Coverfoto kommt von Sandrine Chapeaux, die Liner Notes von Maxi Broecking. Dieses sehr weibliche Kreativteam war eigentlich purer Zufall. Gleichzeitig bin ich stolz darauf, als Bandleaderin mit so kompetenten Frauen zu arbeiten, die seit vielen Jahren ihren Platz im Geschäft behaupten.

Einen richtig schönen Trailer für Kaleidoscope Empathy hat Manuel Pietsch gemacht, hier könnt ihr ihn sehen und hören:

https://sophiehassfurther.com

Dazwischen gab es auch noch ein Branchentreffen voller inspirierender Gespräche, alter Bekannter und spannender neuer Begegnungen. Zwischen konkreten Projekten, neuen Kooperationen und spannenden Perspektiven für die Saison 2026/27 war der Austausch mit Kolleg:innen genau das, was mich wieder auflädt und daran erinnert, warum ich das alles macht.

Für Kurzentschlossene gibt es morgen ein Konzert mit dem Ensemble 013 und Johannes Silberschneider im Konzerthaus Klagenfurt beim Pfingstklang Festival:

https://www.klassikinklagenfurt.at/pfingstklang-2026/jedermanninnnoten

Bis bald!

***

There’s plenty to share again, even though things have been a bit quiet here in the newsletter lately. I’ve been on the road a lot over the past few months: in April, for example, with the wonderfully offbeat musical theater production Lissi & Herr Timpe in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. I also recorded some improvised music in the Netherlands with a fantastic new trio, more on that soon.

A major project has been completed: Kaleidoscope Empathy has been fully edited. Huge kudos to Markus Wallner for his tireless work and meticulous listening. Markus Brändli is handling the mastering.

The album will be released in October 2026 on Hat Hut Records. The cover photo is by Sandrine Chapeaux, and the liner notes are by Maxi Broecking. This very female creative team was actually pure coincidence. At the same time, I’m quite proud, as a bandleader, to be working with such competent women who have stood their ground in the business for many years.

Manuel Pietsch created a beautiful trailer for Kaleidoscope Empathy, you can watch and listen to it here:

https://sophiehassfurther.com

In between, there was also an industry gathering full of inspiring conversations, old acquaintances, and exciting new encounters. Amid concrete projects, new collaborations, and exciting prospects for the 2026/27 season, reconnecting with colleagues was exactly what recharged me and reminded me why I do all of this.

For those who like to make spontaneous plans, there is a concert tomorrow featuring Ensemble 013 and Johannes Silberschneider at the Konzerthaus Klagenfurt as part of the Pfingstklang Festival:

https://www.klassikinklagenfurt.at/pfingstklang-2026/jedermanninnnoten

See you around!

Proclamation ijzerstaven

Basklarinetfestijn at Salon de Ijzerstaven recently!

The program that afternoon featured:

Lothar Ohlmeier/Tobias Klein (D/NL)
Sophie Hassfurther/Fie Schouten (A/NL)
Stefanie Gardner & Paradise Winds (USA)

Video: Salon de ijzerstaven
Audio: Chris Watt
Pix: Stefanie Gardner

In collaboration with Fie Schouten at Moers Festival, recorded by Peter Hoeger-Wiedig.

#MoersFestival #BassetHorn #flute #ImprovisedMusic

*So* very much looking forward to playing with dieb 13 aka Dieter Kovačič tomorrow!

Monday Improvisers Session
Monday October 13 @ Celeste
doors: 19:00
concert: 20:00
Hamburgerstraße 18, 1050 Wien

Sophie Hassfurther – sax
Dieb13 – turntables

Check out his music here
synkleptie № 1044, by dieb13

#ImprovisedMusic #experimental #avantgarde #contemporary #noise #electronic  #Vienna #ArtisticResearch
@ImprovisedMusic

Monday Improvisers Session | Wien

Weekly Session hosted by Susanna Gartmayer & Thomas Berghammer & Didi Kern. Founded by M. Eneidi 2005

#FreeImprovisation #impro

Liebe Alle,

nächste Woche ist es soweit: wir ziehen uns ins Studio von Markus Wallner zurück und nehmen meine Kompositionen für Kaleidoscope auf. Es kribbelt schon ordentlich, und obwohl alles bestens vorbereitet ist, bleibt es natürlich aufregend.

Next week it is finally happening: we are heading into the studio with Markus Wallner to record my compositions for Kaleidoscope. The excitement is real, and even with all the preparation, it still feels thrilling.

Aber bevor ich mich komplett in meine musikalische Parallelwelt verabschiede, möchte ich zwei Konzerte empfehlen, auf die ich mich besonders freue:

But before I fully dive into my musical parallel universe, I want to recommend two upcoming concerts in Vienna, that I’m particularly looking forward to:

4. Oktober Haydn Extravaganza beim Tonlese Festival

Ein Abend zwischen Struktur und Freiheit. Gemeinsam mit dem Chaos String Quartett und Tobias Meissl betreten wir musikalisches Neuland. Haydns Streichquartett Op. 20 Nr. 1 trifft auf improvisierte Klangräume für Vibraphon und Saxophon, inspiriert von Haydn, durchzogen vom Geist des Jazz. Was genau passiert? Lassen wir’s einfach passieren.

An evening somewhere between structure and freedom. Together with the Chaos String Quartet and Tobias Meissl, we’ll venture into new musical territory. Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 20 No. 1 meets improvised soundscapes for vibraphone and saxophone – inspired by Haydn, infused with the spirit of jazz. What exactly will happen? Let’s see where it goes.

13. Oktober Celeste Session Eröffnung mit dieb13

Und am 13. Oktober eröffne ich mit dieb13 die Celeste Session. Dieter und ich kennen uns schon lange, und ich schätze seine Arbeit sehr. In zwei Wochen ist es dann das erste Mal, dass wir auch musikalisch miteinander zu tun haben. Turntables, Saxophon, Spontaneität. Im Celeste gibt es zu hören, was sonst nicht zu hören ist!

And on October 13, I’will be opening the Celeste Session with dieb13. Dieter and I have known each other for a long time, and his work has always resonated with me. In two weeks, we will finally collaborate musically for the first time. Turntables, saxophone, spontaneity. At Celeste, you will hear what usually goes unheard.

Zwei Abende, zwei unterschiedliche Zugänge – beide kompromisslos. Komm vorbei!

Two nights, two completely different approaches – both uncompromising. Come by if you are around!

4. Oktober – Haydn Extravaganza @ Tonlese Festival
18:15 Künstler*innengespräch
19:30 Konzertbeginn
Zacherlfabrik, Nusswaldgasse 14, Wien
mit Chaos String Quartet & Tobias Meissl
https://www.festivaltonlese.com

13. Oktober – Celeste Session mit dieb13
18:00 Bar, Pizza und Garten
20:00 Live-Musik
Monday Improvisers Session
Celeste Hamburgerstraße 18, Wien
https://www.facebook.com/people/Monday-Improvisers-Session/100063885210456/

Can’t wait to record with this awesome band coming week!
pic (c) Astrid Knie

Ballad Solo

Heute Probe mit dieser wunderbaren Band. Wir spielen am 19. September in Gänserndorf, danach geht es ins Studio von Markus Wallner das Programm aufnehmen.

Rehearsing with this stellar Band today for our gig in Gänserdorf next week. After that we will go to the studio of Markus Wallner to record this program.

Dear all!

September dates!

Sat 6 September, 20:00
Joey Green & The Rayville Big Band
Casanova Dorotheergasse 6-8, Wien, Austria
https://casanova-vienna.at/events/joey-green-the-rayville-bigband-live/

Sun 14 September, 15:00
Schouten/Hassfurther/Borges/Gratkowski
Basklarinetfestijn Lantaren Venster, Otto Reuchlinweg 996, Rotterdam, Netherlands
https://www.lantarenvenster.nl/programma/basklarinetfestijn-2025/

Fri 19 September, 19:30
Kaleidoscope
dakig Bahnstraße 33a, Gänserndorf
https://www.kulturbuehne.at/programm/programm-details/kaleidoscope

The most exciting news: Austrian Music Export (AME) and the Austrian Music Fund are supporting my collaboration with Dutch clarinetist Fie Schouten through a grant (Impulsförderung)! That means more space for focused, creative work, a real luxury.

In August, we took the opportunity of Fie’s residency in Paris and spent a few inspiring days at the van Doesburghuis, where we rehearsed, laughed, discussed ideas, explored the city and made new connections. Needless to say, Paris and Meudon are worth a visit even without a residency. The van Doesburghuis is open to visitors once a month (highly recommended!). And at Rodin’s former home, now the Musée Rodin, there is at least an attempt to provide historical context and challenge the cult of genius. I was saving the Jean Arp and Sophie Taeuber Museum for next time, but the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris had a wonderful exhibition of works by Gabriele Münter, co-founder of Der Blaue Reiter.

But back to the project with Fie Schouten: this autumn, we’ll be playing three concerts, starting off next week in Rotterdam, joined by the wonderful Frank Gratkowski and Sofia Borges. The project explores the theme of space, inspired by the book Espèces d’espaces (en: Species of Spaces and Other Pieces) by Georges Perec. The idea of space – staging, taking space, giving space – has become a key topic in our conversations and has offered us a whole new perspective on the text.

We recorded with Frank just over a year ago. One of the pieces is up on SoundCloud (just click away the nag screen in the top right corner).

On September 19, I’ll be performing with my octet Kaleidoscope at dakig in Gänserndorf, a concert I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. The dakig is a true rock in the storm. Anyone who’s ever tried organizing culture in the countryside knows what I am talking about. This will be our last concert before we head into the studio with the program at the end of September, more on that soon. The music explores themes like equal opportunity, power structures, credibility, courage, vulnerability, empathy, and integrity.

And for anyone in the mood for Big Band and a Ray Charles program this Friday: I’ll be performing with the Joey Green Big Band at Casanova in Vienna.

Oh yes, somewhere in between all of this, there was our home renovation… but I’ll save that story for another time over a cold drink. 🍹

Regards,

Sophie

Photoshoot and private concert with/for Jean-Michel Bale and Beja Tjeerdsma at Van Doesburghuis in Meudon

Me and Fie can be heard in autumn during the Basklarinet Festijn and at Moers Festival.
First one: 14.09.2025, 15:00 LantarenVenster Rotterdam in quartet with Sofia Borges and Frank Gratkowski.

The crib:

Yesterday Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, photos and paintings by German expressionist and co founder of the blue rider (Blaue Reiter) Gabriele Münter