Surround Sound

The night after my arrival in Darmstadt, my friend-extraordinaire, composer-extraordiaire, and amazing host Peter and I took a voyage on the trams into the center of Darmstadt. It was to hear a piece written and "conceived" during the Darmstadt FerienKurse. 

PHOTO: Promotion poster, containing an interesting reflection. 
 

The work of the night was "Prometeo," (read more here - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometeo) a tour-de-force for multiple choruses, orchestras, vocal soloists, ensembles, three conductors, and a team of virtuoso sound engineers. The total ensemble was split up and divided all around the room. The audience was asked to enter in small groups, wearing masks. We were then guided by an usher to our seats, which were arranged in circles of sixes, seatbacks together (so within an "island" of chairs, you faced out). At various points within the piece, the audience was asked to circle around two places, so that you could experience the "surround sound" in total.

Not only that, but for the opening "Prologo," you were asked to sit with your mask on. Despite my jet "leg" (see this post), I probably only nodded off for about 30 seconds of a masked prologue. Not bad. (Though I'm still suffering from some jet leg).

PHOTO: Promoteo-mask-selfie, taken in my practice space for the week.

Luigi Nono (bio is here - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Nono_(composer) ) was an avant-garde twentieth-century composer, Venetian-trained by Gian Francesco Malipiero (one of the comopsers who was the subject of my masters' thesis). He was a student at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse in the 1950s. According to the placard outside of the concert, "Prometeo" was conceived with the things that he had learned from his colleagues in Darmstadt. 

PHOTO: Here is a favorite shot of mine of Venice (ca. early June, 2012).

This isn't exactly a piece to take a road-trip listening to, but since performances are rare (size, difficulty, expense, electronic necessities), I'm thrilled that I was able to hear a performance of this quality, and in a location that was so important to its creation.