WHEN the Southbank
Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall closed last year for refurbishment it
meant its resident orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, had to find new
places to play in.
It has proved to be an
opportunity to look further afield from the more traditional concert
hall venues.
Earlier this month they
performed at the Southwark Playhouse and now they are gearing up for
a couple of nights at the Coronet in Elephant & Castle in which
they will stage the first of two landmark UK premieres.
The iconic, cavernous
and multi-purpose venue has been the beating heart of Southwark’s
cultural scene since 1872 and for the Sinfonietta's chief executive
Andrew Burke it offers the perfect setting for some exciting new
work.
"Contemporary
music is so varied and requires so many different ways of presenting
it," says Andrew.
"We wanted to find
spaces that resonated with the pieces we are putting on and the
Coronet, which has been a theatre, cinema and more recently a
nightclub and live music venue, fitted the bill perfectly.
"It's hugely
exciting for us to be here. We will be using all parts of the stage
and indeed the venue, playing in different areas so it will be an
incredible experience."
The first piece is a
thought-provoking performance of The Book Of Disquiet. Composer
Michel van der Aa’s score transforms Portuguese poet Fernando
Pessoa's collection of dream vignettes that combines spoken word,
performed by actor Samuel West, with music, electronics and video.
In March the Coronet
will host the UK premiere of Speicher by innovative composer Enno
Poppe which was developed over five years, and will be conducted by
leading Finnish conductor Susanna Malkki.
"We are very
excited to be working with Samuel who is a great actor," says
Andrew. "Van der Aa's music is unusual but very accessible and
wonderful to listen to.
"It's an
extraordinary sound and the concert will be played in front of three
large cicular screens which have video projected on them. It's going
to be very exciting."
Andrew hopes these
excursions will be the start of more visits to other venues although
he says he's looking forward to going back to the Southbank Centre
when it's re-opened in 2018.
"Our main work
will remain in the Southbank Centre as there will always be some
music that needs to be played in a concert hall," he says.
"However there is
a real excitement that comes when we find a connection with the music
we are performing and the spaces we are performing in. I'm sure these
two years of exploring different spaces will inspire us to keep doing
that.
"The 21st century
is only 15 years old and there is tonnes being written so it's an
exciting time for us to explore new ways of working, how we make
music, what art forms we can collaborate with and where we play.
"We already have a
diverse audience who come and see our performances but we hope we can
show new audiences that contemporary classical music is for
everyone."
The Book Of Disquiet is
on at the Coronet Theatre, New Kent Road on Wednesday February 24 and
Thursday February 25. Tickets are £20. Visit
www.southbankcentre.co.uk or call the box office on 0844 847 9940.
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