Hildur Guðnadóttir (*1982)
Ascent for Orchestra (2009) CH
Opaque for String Orchestra (2009) CH
Baer for Cello and String Orchestra (2014) CH
For Petra for Orchestra (2022) CH
Nik Bärtsch (*1971)
Aphantasia for Nik Bärtsch's Mobile and Orchestra (2024)World
Premiere Commissioned by the Basel Sinfonietta
With the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
Titus Engel, conductor
Martin Jaggi, solo cello
Nik Bärtsch's Mobile: Nik Bärtsch, piano; Sha, alto saxophone and bass clarinet; Nicolas Stocker, drums and percussion
Lena Schmidt, Lighting Design
Laurent Zufferey, Assistant Conductor
Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch eschews virtuosic flourishes in his music, which is characterized by ritual, reduction, and the allure of repetition. He draws inspiration from an understanding of time rooted in Zen Buddhism. With his various ensembles, Bärtsch has created a completely unique sound that lies somewhere between jazz, funk, and minimal music.
While he has been performing with his Zen-Funk group Ronin every Monday at the Zurich club Exil for almost 15 years and touring through Asia, Europe, North America and Africa, with his acoustic formation Mobile he practices a meditative-sounding, sonically and rhythmically highly idiosyncratic “Ritual Groove Music”, which is now combined for the first time with a large orchestra in his new work commissioned by the Basel Sinfonietta.
Icelandic composer and cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir has already won numerous Grammys, Emmys, and an Oscar for her score to the American thriller blockbuster "Joker." More recently, she caused a sensation with her soundtrack to the Oscar-nominated drama "Tár," about a star conductor and concertmaster of a major Berlin orchestra (starring Cate Blanchett and Nina Hoss as a married musician couple).
The Basel Sinfonietta presents music by Hildur Guðnadóttir from various periods of her career in the first part of this concert: "Ascent" and "Opaque" from her early concept album "Without Sinking," as well as "Baer" from the album "Saman." And as a special highlight, the piece "For Petra" from the recent feature film "Tár.".
Concert introduction 6:15 pm
In cooperation with Kaserne Basel and the Offbeat Jazz Festival Basel.
With the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.
(UA) premiere
(CH) Swiss premiere
Program subject to change
