• VT044 | Luís Salgueiro: tractatus rhytmico-philosophicus

    As listeners will soon notice, Portuguese composer Luís Salgueiro (1993) moves with ease between philosophy and music — two territories that, in his work, often mirror one another. In this episode, we join him in a quiet exploration of how thought becomes sound and how language shapes what we hear, while listening to a few…

  • VT043 | Ludger Brümmer: structure / space

    📷 Felix Grünschloss After the summer break, we return with composer Ludger Brümmer (Werne, 1958) as the guest of the first episode of the 2025/26 season. Like many composers, Brümmer cannot resist speaking about music — yet he does so in a uniquely compelling way. The former director of ZKM shares insights into his approach…

  • VT042 | Alessandro Perini: dumpsterdiving and food saving

    Among the many ways of categorising composers, one is to distinguish between those who like to follow the rules and those who have the impetus to question them. As far as we can tell from listening to his documentary “dumpsterdiving and food saving”, Alessandro Perini (1983) belongs to those who like to defy the rules.…

  • VT041 | Silva Borzelli: pianocast – on erosion and resistance

    A few days before the Portuguese premiere of Silvia Borzelli’s (Rome, 1978) A Self-portrait (with Anatsui in the background) [2022], this Netherlands based Italian composer shares some insights on her own music, erosion, resistance and whatever comes before music. silviaborzelli.com credits: stalagma (Anna Politkovskaja in memoriam) [2007], for piano | Emanuele Torquati > piano // zattere [2013], for piano…

  • VT040 | João Pedro Oliveira: tense and harsh

    Right before the release of the album “City Walk”,  in which Nuno Aroso and his ensemble (Clamat – colectivo variável) perform João Pedro Oliveira (Lisbon, 1959) percussion music, Portuguese composer based in Santa Barbara – California, tells us about the universe from which his music arises.Would it all be rock? jpoliveira.com credits: In the House of the…

  • VT039 | Sivan Cohen Elias: conversations about puppetry

    One of Sivan Cohen Elias’ (Jerusalem, 1976) major interests must be sound puppetry. In Vortex Temporum episode number 39, this Israeli composer lets us listen to a conversation she has with her husband and collaborator, Rey Hulme, about this central matter of her own music. 📷 Ana Sladetić sivancohenelias.com credits:How to Make a Monster [2021],…

  • VT038 | Sara Stevanović: this podcast will be cancelled

    In episode 38 of Vortex Temporum podcast, Sara Stevanović (Belgrade, 1998) reflects on cancel culture based on Harry Lehmann’s ‘Ideologiemaschinen: Wie Cancel Culture funktioniert’.  📷 Max Niederer sarastevanovic.com credits:search: pink fingers fragile archives [2024]. live performance by Ensemble Recherche at the Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik festival 2024. 

  • VT037 | Jessie Cox: music not about music

    Swiss composer with roots in Trinidad and Tobago Jessie Cox (1995) reflects on what music can be beyond music. Isn’t it about existence after all ? 📷 Gaya Feldheim Schorr jessiecoxmusic.com credits: Invocation: Nebula, from When You’re a Star [UT007]

  • VT036 | Riccardo Nova: I bought my ticket

    Riccardo Nova (1960) gave us an interview to produce a Vortex Temporum podcast episode and he told us about his marvellous adventures as an innate traveller. Finally, the composer in him prevailed and he could not help but make us a beautiful piece of music.

  • VT035 | Zara Ali: culinary interlude

    Vortex Temporum podcast’s intermission finally comes to an end with Zara Ali’s cookbook. The young and promising North-American composer Zara Ali (Memphis, 1995) lets us get into her home and loud thoughts before discussing with her partner a couple of their families’ specialties. Can you smell it? 📷 Camilo Pachón / Stiftung Künstlerdof (detail) zaraali.de credits:Isolation Forest [2023]…