How do different musical worlds (Orient/Occident) meet without taking away from each other's magic? How do you deal with one another, how do you open up, create synergies, and at the same time endure the contrasts when different cultural backgrounds face each other? Does the intercultural encounter of two musical worlds result in an added value aesthetically and musically or is it formed in the minds of the inclined listeners rather than on stage? These are the questions the Ensemble Modern is exploring together with musicians from the Frankfurt initiative “Bridges – Musik verbindet” during “Crossing Roads”. Together, they realize a multi-faceted programme of various sound concepts in which oriental tunes from Syria, Iran, Mongolia or Eritrea enter into dialogue with contemporary European music.