ECLAT, Stuttgart's ever-expanding midwinter Festival, has grown to be one of the most promising German happenings of the scene by focusing on fresh blood and gender parity. This year's specifically marketed ambition was to push the boundaries in terms of concert setting, audience participation and politics. While this attempt was more curious than successful, the festival generally managed to present interesting works while avoiding any cataclysmic failures – a feat of sorts for a festival presenting 37 premieres.