Ensemble Senza Sforzando

Within this context, the Ensemble Senza Sforzando has become established as one of the most exciting contemporary music groups. Founded in 2001 by the conductor and pianist Oleksandr Perepelytsia, it has developed close associations with Odessa’s legendary festival Two Days and Two Nights of New Music, and has become a byword for indefatigable enthusiasm in experimentation and curiosity in sound. The ensemble will be presenting a selection of its diverse repertoire in Berlin, performing works by Ukrainian composers.


The members of the Ensemble Senza Sforzando are focused not only on musical innovation, but also on the profound artistic confrontation with challenges of our day and age – from war and identity to cultural transformation. Senza Sforzando creates an entirely new programme each year for the festival Two Days and Two Nights of New Music in Odessa which views itself as an acoustic laboratory – a space in which world premieres and avant-garde trends come together with the critical reflection on music as a social resonance chamber.


The open-mindedness of the ensemble for new impulses is also reflected in its performing forces: new musicians are constantly joining the ensemble to augment its tonal spectrum and foster the dialogue between a wide variety of different musical approaches. This continual development and the interaction between diverse tonal worlds have made Senza Sforzando a unique ensemble distinguished by its untiring search for new forms of musical expression.


Ostap Manulyak (*1983)

Ramifications II (2024)

for voice, flute, violin, cello and piano


Kira Majdenberg-Todorova (*1985)

My beloved … (2022)

for soprano, cello and piano

Lyrics by Valeriya Zhigalina


Yurii Pikush (*1998)

And a strawberry in the hand (2025)

for soprano, flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello

Lyrics by Yuriy Izdryk

World premiere


Alla Zahaykevich (*1966)

Signs of Presence (2022)

for soprano, cello and piano

Lyrics by Iya Kiva


Karmella Tsepkolenko (*1955)

Reading History (2022)

Cantata for soprano (with small drum), cello and piano

Lyrics Oksana Zabuzhko


Volodymyr Runchak (*1960)

Time „X“ or „Farewell“ (non-symphony) (1998)

for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello


Asmati Chibalashvili (*1986)

With Faith in Ukraine (2022)

for soprano, cello and piano

Lyrics by Yulia Dmytrenko-Despotashvili


Bohdan Sehin (1976)

New work (2025)

for soprano, flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello

World premiere


Karmella Tsepkolenko (*1955)

Faust’s Holiday (2012)

cantata for soprano, voice and ensemble

Lyrics by Yuriy Andruchowych


Andrii Merkhel (*1986)

Temporary protection: unsentimental nocturnes for Alika

Episode in 9 moments (2022)

for ensemble



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