Open Family

Open Family celebrated its premiere in November 2024 as part of Wien Modern. Instruments from four different genres open up a spectral soundscape for the quartet’s music, drawing listeners into the depths and expanses of imaginary soundscapes. Rooted in many years of experience as both improvisers and interpreters, the four musicians combine the spontaneity and immediacy of improvisational music with the architectural and form-shaping forces of compositional awareness.

Tiziana Bertoncini is a violinist, composer and performer. After studying violin and fine arts, she turned to contemporary composed and improvised music. Alongside her work as a musician, she has been involved in dance, theatre, video and multimedia projects. Her own artistic work encompasses composition, performance and installation.

Thomas Lehn studied sound engineering and piano. Since 1989, he has worked with analogue live electronics and, as a musician, composer and interpreter, has realized numerous works for synthesizer. In addition to his own real-time compositions, he performs contemporary electronic music, including works by Élaine Radigue, Bogusław Schaeffer, Zbigniew Karkowski, Anthony Pateras, Peter Jakober and Jürg Frey. His international concert work is documented on around 100 recordings.

Alessandra Rombolà is a flutist who works internationally in the fields of contemporary experimental music and free improvisation. Building on her classical training, she has developed an increasingly open and individual approach that expands the sonic possibilities of the flute. She works both as an interpreter of contemporary compositions and in free improvisation contexts, bringing interpretation and improvisation together in numerous collaborations with composers. Her solo and collaborative work has been released on labels including Stradivarius, SOFA, Another Timbre and Al Maslakh.

Ingar Zach is deeply engaged with the expanded possibilities of contemporary percussion. The Gran Cassa is at the centre of his work, with its vibrations explored and extended using various objects and electronics. As a musician, he is active in ensembles including Dans les arbres, Huntsville, Mural and O3, and works in numerous international projects. As a composer, he has created works for ensembles such as Ensemble Musikfabrik, Quatuor Bozzini, Speak Percussion and Ludus Gravis. His solo work is also used in film, dance and performance.