A festival of contemporary music at the start of the season in Alte Oper
Since the beginning of the season 1999/2000, Alte Oper Frankfurt, together with its Frankfurt partners, starts each new season under the motto "Auftakt" (Start). "Auftakt" picks up the concept of the "Frankfurt Feste" and sets it forth in a new format. Proven cooperation partnerships of Alte Oper with key Frankfurt culture institutions such as Deutsche Ensemble Akademie - with Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Modern Orchestra and Junge Deutsche Philharmonie -, the Frankfurt Museums Gesellschaft and Hessische Rundfunk not least gain further support from this mutual project.
Since the start of the season 2001/2002, which also coincides with the 20. anniversary of Alte Oper, "Auftakt" continues to be planned as festival of contemporary music. Two thematic keynotes characterize the Festival: a composer portrait and an interpreter portrait.
The “Auftakt” enjoys the support of organizations such as the Hessen Ministry for Science and Art and the Society of Friends of the Alte Oper Frankfurt. Patron is the Frankfurt Mayoress Petra Roth.