We are all lichens
Concert | Premiere 2022

“We are all lichens; so we can be scraped off the rocks by the Furies, who still erupt to avenge crimes against the earth.” Donna Haraway

Soprano Juliet Fraser and double bassist Florentin Ginot first performed together in a large-scale work by Rebecca Saunders, in November 2019. During this first encounter they began imagining a new duo project which could move beyond the traditional format of a concert by incorporating elements of lighting, staging and electronic improvisation. This project proposes a collision between the sparse and minimal music of the Czech composer Martin Smolka and the powerful, noise-infused sound of the Polish artist Anna Zaradny, on stage beside the duo.

The hour-long show brings together these two distinct soundworlds, allowing acoustic instrumental performance and live electronic improvisation to overlap and interact. Whilst the performance is not staged, it is designed with large spaces in mind — the performers will use different ‘stations’ within the space. The sound will sometimes be localised, sometimes immersive; lighting will further enhance the journey.

Compositions

Martin Smolka is composing a 30-minute cycle for voice and double bass (possibly incorporating a sparse tape part). The cycle will allow for the interspersing of electronic interludes.

Anna Zaradny will devise and perform a total of 30 minutes of live electronics (also incorporating voice and double bass), forming a series of interludes around Smolka’s music and concluding the performance.

A HowNow production | Co-production Acht Brücken - Musik für Köln (Cologne), Milano Musica (Milan), Sound Festival (Aberdeen) | With the support of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation and SACEM

TEAM
Concept, double bass • Florentin Ginot
Concept, voice • Juliet Fraser
Composition, live electronics • Anna Zaradny
Sound direction • Martin Antiphon