THE SONAT SERIES
in co-operation with Ensemble Ars Nova
SONAT (Sonic Art Theatre) is a series of experimental music-dramatic projects
by Teatr Weimar and Ensemble Ars Nova.
The point of departure is the form and aesthetics of the hörspiel
transformed into scenic formation. The hörspiel has it’s strongest
traditions in Germany and is the german term for radio drama. It is in
other words one of the most recent dramatic and musical forms, directly
linked to a technical achievement that still today has an important role
in our culture; the radio. The hörspiel brings together radio documentary,
soundscape, acoustic and electroacoustic music with the semiotics of the
theatre.
Since 2008, we have cooperated in order to find new forms for experimental
music theatre. The core of this activity is the production of new works,
merging the aesthetics of the hörspiel with the theatre’s modes
of expressions. So far, we have produced seven works, five of these were
world premieres and two had their first Swedish performances. Our overarching
ambition is to build an artistic competence and methodology for finding
new forms of expressions for musical drama. An important part of this
project is to create a European network of scenes for new and experimental
musical drama.
During 2010, we will enter into discussions with major institutions in
Sweden, in order to create a national network for experimental music theatre.
Ensemble Ars
Nova
Ensemble Ars Nova was created in 1986. Since 1995, guitarist Stefan Östersjö
has been the ensemble’s artistic director. The ensemble consists
of freelance musicians and musicians from the orchestras of the region
of Skåne. Ensemble Ars Nova has more and more sought out a repertoire,
which combines instrumental and electro-acoustic sound sources. One of
the goals for the work of the ensemble is to explore forms of expression
in which instrumental music and music technology can come together and
enrich one another.
Another facet of the ensemble’s work has been the collaboration
with other arts, in the 1990’s manifested in the “Interface”
series of productions including the first Scandinavian performance of
Samuel Beckett’s/Morton Feldman’s “Words and Music”,
the world premiere of James Clarke’s collaborative work with Swedish
choreographer Efva Lilja: “The incredible you” (including
the world premiere of Clarke’s “Kammersymphonie”) and
several premieres of works by Swedish composers. Ensemble Ars Nova has
regularly toured in Sweden as well as Denmark, England, Germany, Italy
and Poland. The ensemble, along with Athelas Sinfonietta, Birminghamn
Contemporary Music Group, BIT 20 and Court-Circuit takes part in in the
Culture 2007 project Integra: a joint operation of studios, centres of
research and ensembles in Europe, striving to develop technology for music,
instruments and electronics.
Teatr Weimar
Teatr Weimar is the leading collective of playwrights, directors and actors
in Sweden with over thirty productions the last five years. The group
consists of different performing artists who explore the boundaries and
expressions of theatre at our own scene in Malmö. Teatr Weimar´s
repertoire stretches from traditional theatre to musical drama and more
conceptual performances in co-operation with other artists.
Coming
events
Bengt
Emil Johnson in memoriam
Festival for sound art/poetry in the memory of legendary Swedish poet/composer
Bengt Emil Johnson
16-18/8
De stränga anteckningarna
Composer: Kent Olofsson. Text: Jörgen Dahlqvist. Art work: Peter
Jönsson
Premiere scheduled january 2011
Avaliable
for tour 2011
Idioms
Composer: Richard Karpen. Text: Jörgen Dahlqvist. Musicians: The
Six Tones.
Premiere scheduled september/october 2011
Avaliable
for tour 2011-2012
Circus Maximus
By American composer Alvin Curran.
Premiere scheduled september 2011 in Warsaw.
T.B.A
Text: Christina Ouzounidis. Music: Kim Hedås
Premiere scheduled spring 2011.