Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra

How is it possible to sustain such a high level of energy, ingenuity, and sheer madness for twenty years? For two decades now, the Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra—under the direction of Berlin-based composer Daniel Glatzel—has never ceased to amaze us. We marvel at how one can keep such a musical fireworks display burning continuously; at how one can juggle genres, stylistic idioms, and music-historical references in such a dizzying fashion; and at just where the ensemble members derive their telepathic powers.

The music of AMEO is wild, idiosyncratic, haunting, atmospheric, witty, and captivating—all at once. It draws upon musical registers stemming from the most diverse cultural contexts. This is executed with a nonchalance that borders on the audacious.

Since its founding in 2006, the ensemble has continually reinvented itself. With a repertoire now comprising over 120 works—composed and arranged specifically for this remarkable ensemble, and mostly penned by ensemble leader Daniel Glatzel—AMEO embarks on adventurous voyages of discovery. Following four internationally acclaimed albums, over 250 concerts across 25 countries on four continents, and countless projects and collaborations, AMEO now celebrates its 20th anniversary with a series of special programs.

This anniversary tour kicks off with a grand concert on September 11, 2026, at the Radialsystem in Berlin. The fact that not only the ensemble but also the venue is celebrating a milestone birthday this year can surely be no coincidence. Audiences can look forward to works by the orchestra spanning the various creative phases of the past decade, as well as new pieces whose artistic focus will be, above all, one thing: surprising.

In 2021, the Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra was named the inaugural winner of the German Jazz Prize for Large Ensembles; in 2024, it was once again nominated as "Ensemble of the Year," and in 2025, it was honored as "Live Act of the Year." The ensemble has performed—in some cases multiple times—in major venues such as the Berlin Philharmonie, the Cologne Philharmonie, and the Elbphilharmonie, as well as at the Roskilde Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Zurich Festival, Union Chapel London, Cairo Jazz Festival, Jazzfest Berlin, EnjoyJazz, Elbjazz, JazzBaltica, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, the Ludwigsburg Festival, the Hellerau Tonlagen Festival, the Leipzig Jazz Days, the International Jazz Week Burghausen, Jazz & The City Salzburg, Rigas Ritmi, Sant’Anna Arresi, and many others.

Funded by the Capital Cultural Fund.