Franui is an Austrian music band named after an alpine meadow in Innervillgraten. They have been playing together since 1993 with almost unchanged lineup and are known for their reinterpretations of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, and Mahler. Their musical concept combines classical music, folk music, jazz, and contemporary chamber music.
In their concerts and music theater productions, the musicians collaborate with outstanding stage partners. Franui’s recordings have been awarded multiple prizes. The Musicbanda of the same name has been playing in almost unchanged formation since 1993 and has been a guest at many festivals and concert organizers (including Wiener Konzerthaus, Burgtheater Wien, Salzburger Festspiele, Bregenzer Festspiele, Ruhrtriennale, Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, Münchner Opernfestspiele, Isarphilharmonie München, Philharmonie Köln, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Schauspielhaus Zürich, Holland Festival, Klarafestival Brussels, Philharmonie de Paris).
VIDEO
PRESS
“Always sensed, never heard like this before.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
“A fantastic sound, contemporary, vibrant, harmonious. World-class. Top, but addictive.”
Kurier
PROJEKT 2024/25
30.10 – 09.11.2024 and upon request! Mahler Project: Where I am going
Music by Gustav Mahler, Carl Loewe, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and others.
When the East Tyrolean Musicbanda Franui and the Choir of the Bavarian Radio come together, the music of Gustav Mahler becomes the focal point. While the ten musicians of Franui uncover Mahler’s folk music inspirations, break down large-scale orchestral songs into a pocket-sized version, and fearlessly tailor the sound costume to contemporary standards, the Choir of the Bavarian Radio is particularly at home in Mahler’s large-scale symphonic music.
Together, the two ensembles shed new light on Mahler’s music through arrangements or “post-compositions” by Markus Kraler/Andreas Schett and Howard Arman, encompassing its pre-life and afterlife. Starting with the influences that shaped the young Mahler – including several songs by Carl Loewe at the beginning – the program freely and associatively follows the famous “Farewell” from Mahler’s masterpiece Song of the Earth, which was created in Toblach. “Where am I going?” it says at the end, “I am going, I am wandering into the mountains. I seek tranquility for my lonely heart.”
