Latest news with #KlangforumWien
Korea Herald
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Boundary-breaking metaopera 'Amopera' to premiere in Korea next week
Daegu Opera House hosts two performances next weekend 'Amopera,' a metaopera that reconfigures and reinterprets fragments from 16 operatic works spanning the past century, is set to make its Korean premiere at the Daegu Opera House next week. The opera is a collaboration between the Austrian contemporary music ensemble Klangforum Wien and the internationally acclaimed Belgian arts collective Needcompany. It premiered in November 2022 in Austria. Klangforum Wien, a renowned contemporary music ensemble based in Vienna, Austria, comprises 25 musicians from 10 countries, delivering unique sounds that offer audiences fresh experiences. Meanwhile, Needcompany, led by Jan Lauwers, the winner of the Golden Lion Award at the 2014 Venice Biennale, is known for groundbreaking artistic productions that blend performance, literature and visual arts. The two arts companies joined forces to weave together fragments from 16 operatic literary works, reimagining and reinterpreting them to create new connections and meanings. By intertwining musical, visual and literary components, 'Amopera' presents audiences with captivating and unfamiliar experiences, according to Daegu Opera House in Daegu, a city that has promoted itself as a hub for musical productions and operas by introducing new works. 'We hope this performance provides a rare opportunity to experience contemporary and metaopera, and as we continue our efforts to create new operas, 'Amopera' holds special significance in expanding the genre,' said Daegu Opera House's General Director, Jung Gap-kyun. The title "Amopera" carries dual meanings. The first interpretation, "amor opera" ("love opera"), suggests a thematic focus on love. However, rather than depicting love in its idealized and purest form, the production delves into its darker dimensions, such as jealousy, betrayal and madness. The second meaning, "I am opera," expands on the idea that every performer on stage -- whether singer, musician or dancer -- embodies the essence of opera itself, reinforcing the production's metatheatrical concept. The upcoming production of "Amopera" will feature soprano Sarah Maria Sun and baritone Holger Falk under the artistic direction of Jan Lauwers and the baton of Tim Anderson. They will be joined by Grace Chang, Martin Seghers and Paul Blackman from Needcompany, along with the ensemble Klangforum Wien. The Korean premiere, part of "Amopera"'s Asia tour with a performance in Hong Kong on March 19, is set to take place at Daegu Opera House on March 22 at 5 p.m. and March 23 at 3 p.m. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won ($13.80) to 70,000 won.
The Guardian
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Klangforum Wien review – Vienna focus brings lucid and colour-filled Pierrot Lunaire
Founded by the composer and conductor Beat Furrer in 1985, Klangforum Wien is now regarded as one of Europe's finest new-music ensembles. But, for its first visit to the Wigmore Hall in London, the Vienna-based chamber orchestra brought two programmes that focused on what was new a century ago, when, on either side of the first world war, the Austrian capital was the epicentre of modernism in music. In the second of Klangforum's concerts, though, only the work that ended the concert, Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire truly belonged to that revolutionary movement. The first half had been made up of pieces by composers who were very much watchers from the sidelines of modernism, who borrowed some of its tendencies without fully embracing them. Franz Schreker's strange little 'dance allegory' Der Wind, for a quintet of clarinet, horn, piano and strings, from 1909, parades some strikingly original colours alongside moments of pure romantic kitsch, while Hanns Eisler's Divertimento for wind quintet, composed in 1923 while he was still studying with Schoenberg, was one of the first works to adopt his teacher's newly formulated 12-note technique, yet could almost be a lighter-weight, wittier version of Schoenberg's own wind quintet. There was also Busoni's Berceuse Elégiaque, in an arrangement for chamber orchestra that Erwin Stein made for Schoenberg's Society for Private Music Performances, and which involved all 12 Klangforum players in reproducing the lusciously honeyed textures. Vimbayi Kaziboni conducted the Busoni, and also took charge of Pierrot Lunaire, in which the soloist was the mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj, whose wonderfully lucid delivery of the text favoured the gesang end of the Sprechgesang spectrum. The odd touch of winsomeness aside, her performance was wonderfully assured but not at all theatrical. The most vivid imagery came from the ensemble, especially the cellist Andreas Lindenbaum, who added real sepulchral gloom to the eighth movement, Nacht, and led off the grotesquerie in the 16th, Gemeinheit! (Atrocity). But all five instrumentalists ensured that every fleck of colour in Schoenberg's feverish score registered, so that for once music and words seemed perfectly fused, just as they should be in what is one of the great precursors of late 20th-century music theatre.
The Guardian
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
From Captain America to The White Lotus: a complete guide to this week's entertainment
Captain America: Brave New WorldOut now In the latest instalment of Marvel mayhem, Anthony Mackie stars as Sam Wilson-slash-Captain America, with Chris Evans having bowed out. And replacing William Hurt following the veteran actor's death is Harrison Ford, hulking out as antagonist Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, president of the USA and occasional Red Hulk. Oh brave new world indeed. Bridget Jones: Mad About the BoyOut now We've seen singleton Bridget, pregnant Bridget, now here comes widowed solo-parenting Bridget for the presumably final instalment in the Ms Jones chronicles, at least until Helen Fielding writes another bestseller. While raising her six- and 10-year-old children by the late Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), Bridget (Renée Zellweger) finds herself embroiled in another love triangle. Memoir of a SnailOut now After Grace's mother dies during pregnancy, she is raised alongside her twin brother by an alcoholic father. But hold up: this isn't some gritty social-realist drama. No, this is a gritty social-realist stop-motion animation, with voicework from Sarah Snook and Kodi Smit-McPhee. BFI Future film festival 20 February to 6 March, Nationwide Now in its 18th year, this celebration of young film-making talent is back at the BFI showcasing the work of the new generation, aged 16-25. The festival takes place at BFI Southbank, online and in UK cinemas. Catherine Bray Klangforum Wien Wigmore Hall, London, 16 & 17 February One of Europe's leading new-music ensembles makes a rare visit to London, with conductor Vimbayi Kaziboni and mezzo soprano Barbara Kozelj, for concerts devoted to music composed in Vienna in the first decades of the 20th century. The first features Schoenberg, Mahler and Zemlinsky, while in the second Schoenberg's revolutionary Pierrot Lunaire is prefaced with music by Schreker, Eisler and Busoni. Andrew Clements Pitbull3Arena, Dublin, Wednesday; The O2, London, 21 FebruaryThe self-proclaimed Mr Worldwide touches down in the UK and Ireland for just two shows as part of his Party After Dark tour. Expect a litany of 2010s bangers such as Give Me Everything and Timber. Support comes from Lil Jon. Michael Cragg Strictly Smokin' Big Band ft Emma RawiczGlasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead, 21 February The young UK saxophonist-composer started getting noticed when she was still a student, and her 2022 debut album Incantation clinched her growing reputation for seamlessly merging classic-sax soulfulness and post-Coltrane edge. She fronts north-east bandleader Michael Lamb's genre-bending orchestra for this one-off show. John Fordham Carly Pearce19 to 28 February; tour starts London While her four albums haven't troubled charts in the UK, as with a lot of American country stars the Grammy-winning Pearce has built up a loyal following. This tour of mid-sized venues is in support of last year's Hummingbird, which features the excellent revenge anthem, Truck on Fire. MC FlowersSaatchi Gallery, London, to 5 May The first modern artists were fascinated by flowers, from the bouquet being delivered to Manet's Olympia to Van Gogh's intense arrangements. This exhibition follows that floral cult into today's art with a huge and colourful gathering of artists, from Caroline Larsen to Damien Hirst. Emii AlraiCompton Verney, Warwickshire, to 15 June Volcanoes have inspired and exhilirated artists for centuries: in the 18th century, painters flocked to see Vesuvius, the volcano that had buried ancient Pompeii, erupt once again. Emii Alrai responds to Compton Verney's collection of their paintings with rugged, lava-like sculptures. Her installations bring the sublime up to date. Vanessa da SilvaMostyn, Llandudno, to 31 May Brazilian modern art is increasingly renowned, with the Royal Academy currently celebrating its early history. Vanessa da Silva brings the abstract and spatial energy of Brazil's Concrete and Neo-Concrete schools up to date. Her colourful sculptures evoke traditional folk dances, and the power of Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian rituals. Citra SasmitaBarbican: The Curve, London, to 21 April Women fly like birds, or open their heads, out of which living trees sprout. The folklore and mythology of Indonesia gets a feminist rebirth in the paintings of self-taught artist Citra Sasmita, who works with the Kamasan technique, invented in the 1400s. She reverses its traditional dominance by male artisans. Jonathan Jones Lynn FacesNew Diorama theatre, London, 18 February to 1 March What do you do when you're escaping a coercive relationship at 40? Form a punk band, of course. First performed at the Edinburgh fringe, playwright Laura Horton's gig-theatre show is a musical tale of emotional resilience, rebuilt confidence, and Alan Partridge's PA. Kate Wyver Figures in ExtinctionAviva Studios, Manchester, 19 to 22 February The world premiere of the complete Figures in Extinction trilogy by choreographer Crystal Pite and Complicité director Simon McBurney – only the first section has been previously seen in the UK. It's a haunting, searing (and perhaps hopeful) meditation on humanity's impact on nature. Lyndsey Winship ChampionLive theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, to 8 March Live theatre specialises in stories rooted in the north-east, here taking us back to 1977, when Muhammad Ali came to town. This new play by Ishy Din, associate playwright at the Royal Court, explores the impact of the venerable boxer's visit on one family in South Shields. KW Atsuko OkatsukaGlasgow, Thursday; Manchester, 21 February; London, 22 February Many comics riff on their upbringing; few have a backstory as disturbing as this Taiwan-born standup, who grew up in Japan with a schizophrenic mother before being 'kidnapped' by her grandmother and taken to the US. But don't expect an earnest account of childhood trauma; instead Okatsuka's work brims with quirky wit and childlike vim. Rachel Aroesti Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion The White LotusNow & Sky Atlantic, 17 February It's check-in time! Mike White's darkly amusing (and often extremely sinister) luxury resort-set anthology series ups sticks to Thailand for a third trip of a lifetime. The hotel guest list includes a troubled businessman (Jason Issacs) and his brood, plus a peppy young woman (Aimee Lou Wood) and her cynical partner (Walton Goggins). A Thousand Blows Disney+, 21 February Since finding success with Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight has become an astonishingly prolific screenwriter; A Thousand Blows – his sixth TV series since 2023 – sees him return to England's historic criminal underbelly with a tale anchored in the illegal boxing scene of 1880s London. Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty star. Zero Day Netflix, 20 February Robert De Niro plays a former president tasked with investigating a deadly cyber-attack in this starry new series, which also features Jesse Plemons, Dan Stevens and Lizzy Caplan. The vibe may be schlocky, but the creators – Narcos showrunner Eric Newman, ex-NBC News president Noah Oppenheim and Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Michael Schmidt – know their stuff. EastEnders: 40 Years on the SquareiPlayer & BBC One, 17 February, 8pm Only 40 years?! From Pat and Peggy to Barry and Beppe, the London-set soap's hold on the nation's imagination has been strong and steady since the moment it debuted in February 1985. Now the show is taking stock with this Ross Kemp-helmed anniversary documentary revisiting iconic moments and trailblazing storylines. RA AvowedOut 18 February; Xbox, PCFirst-person, colourful, well-written fantasy for appreciators of Oblivion and Skyrim who don't want to ossify waiting for the next Elder Scrolls. Come for the interesting magic-infused combat against fungus-infected beasts, stay for creative social commentary. Keza MacDonald Afterlove EPOut now; PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PCThe creators of cult hit Coffee Talk return with another sensitive gem, this time following budding musician Rama as he grapples with grief amid the trials and joys of everyday life in modern Jakarta. Expect a slice-of-life adventure with plenty of heart. Keith Stuart Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like a Straight Right Out now Australian-born, LA-based pop practitioner Mallrat, AKA Grace Shaw, returns with the follow-up to her 2022 debut, Butterfly Blue. Continuing that album's blend of dreamy ambience and airy cloud rap, it also mixes in thrilling, big pop moments sich as Ray of Light. Alessia Cara – Love & HyperboleOut now After emerging in 2015 with sleeper hit Here, Canadian Cara has won a earn a Grammy and collaborated with the likes of Zedd and Troye Sivan. On this fourth album she teams up with producer Mike Elizondo for 14 tracks that showcase her emotionally frayed vocals. Horsegirl – Phonetics On and On Out now For their second album, alt-rock trio Horsegirl – AKA Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein and Gigi Reece – relocated to New York from their native Chicago, recording in a freezing cold studio with producer Cate Le Bon. The result is an intimate, hyper-focused collection of off-kilter songs anchored by the excellent Switch Over. Bartees Strange – Horror Out now The English-American singer-songwriter leans into that surname on his third album. Raised in Oklahoma on a diet of scary stories to teach him about life, and horror films to make him strong, here he alchemises that fear into power via songs like the genre-hopping Too Much. MC System CrashPodcast With tech oligarchs exerting increasing influence on global governments, this series from writers Paris Marx and Brian Merchant offers crucial insights into the latest developments, from celebrity crypto scams to battles over free speech. Adavya: An Ecology of LoveOnline The digital learning platform offers intriguing courses that touch on topics such as death, gender and environmentalism with often unusual perspectives. Mark Valentine's weekend with their course on biology and romantic connection. Intrigue: Word of GodRadio 4, 19 February, 9.30am Ben Lewis hosts this seven-part series about billionaire Steve Green, whose obsession with acquiring biblical artefacts produced an antiquities scandal. Episode two sees papyrologist Roberta Mazza investigate a suspicious artefact at the Vatican. Ammar Kalia
