The main theme of this year`s festival is “Symphonies of the Future“; the festival will introduce musical compositions, composers and interpreters who will show the audience their future visions of music and the possible ways of realising such interpretations.

James MacMillan (photo), an internationally renowned and one of the most active contemporary composers, will conduct his own pieces which will be performed by one of the best interpreters of his works: the Britten Sinfonia ensemble and oboe virtuoso Nicholas Daniel. In addition to the works of MacMillan, the programme also includes the premiere of “Hymns to the Northern Lights“, a new piece by Tõnu Kõrvits. MacMillan`s second concert will be conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste who has already introduced MacMillan`s works to the Estonian audience in the past.

HK Gruber, the leading figure of the so-called Third Viennese School and an extravagant composer–conductor–chansonnier, will conduct his own works which will be performed by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO) and a remarkable percussion soloist Colin Currie. Another programme performed by ERSO and dedicated to innovative orchestral music, „Alice in Wonderland“, will be conducted by Olari Elts and will feature the premiere of Helena Tulve`s new piece „Anastatica“.

The “Symphonies of the Future“ theme is complemented and highlighted in contrast by ‘alternatives’ – a selection of unusual, surprising developments of orchestral music, including performances by the XXII century orchestra and choir, Ensemble U: “interactive orchestra“, “electronic orchestra“ Eesti Elekter. Developments towards theatrical performances will be presented by some of the most remarkable projects in the cultural circles: “Telegrams from the Nose“, a multimedia performance by François Sarhan and the world-renowned visual artist William Kentridge, performed by the Belgian ensemble Ictus; Stuart Gerbers’ solo performance featuring Karlheinz Stockhausen’s “Himmels–Tür“; Tan Dun`s “Ghost Opera“, performed by the NYYD Ensemble and the famous pipa–soloist Lan Weiwei.

For two decades, the NYYD festival has brought audiences the most exciting and innovative sound creations from Estonia and the rest of the world, invited the most important contemporary composers (Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Tristan Murail, Heiner Goebbels, Gavin Bryars) and top interpreters (Ensemble Modern, London Sinfonietta, Kronos Quartet, Nieuw Ensemble) to Tallinn, and commissioned and premiered nearly 180 new works by Estonian composers. At this year`s festival, nearly all the compositions listed in the programme will be performed in Estonia for the first time.

International new music festival NYYD is one of the highlights of the European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011 musical programme.