A concert-ritual
Dedicated to the medicine and visions of the Navajo and the Sioux, reflected by the chants of Hildegard von Bingen
In our world of fast developing science, technological advancement and revolutionary medicine, we lost touch with the world we live in. Our society of ‘making’ and ‘possessing’ is one of ecological poverty, resulting in a growing destabilization of individuals, shown by the emergence of psychological and physiological disorders.
The premiere of Michael Ellison’s The Vision of Black Elk in February 2015, about the famous Oglala Lakota Medicine Man, inspired Thierry Pécou to create a new programme. He composed a new work himself, influenced by the Navajo healing performances, where Beauty (Hózhó) means a lot more than in our civilisation: it connotes Balance, Harmony and Restoration of psychic and spiritual balance within the individual and in the cosmos as well.
The astonishing music of yet another visionary and healer, Hildegard von Bingen, was the last addition to a programme shaped as a ritual or a healing performance: it invites people to forget about the constant feed of social media, news and email, to listen without distraction, and to realise that we need the earth and each other to survive.
So turn off your cell phone, laptop, radio, television,
or whatever high tech equipment you have...
Come closer, gather around the fire. It’s time to listen
and learn about life.
The traditional way. The way of
Mother Earth. The Beauty Way.
Video
Femme changeante
Program
Michael Ellison
The Vision of Black Elk for contralto and ensemble
Thierry Pécou
Changing Woman, Cantata of the Four Mountains for two contraltos and ensemble
Hildegard von Bingen
Monodies
The cast
Guest artists
Katarina Livljanic contralto
Noa Frenkel contralto
Ensemble Variances
Anne Cartel flute
Carjez Gerretsen clarinet
Nicolas Prost sax
David Louwerse cello
Laurène Durantel double bass
Nicolas Drincourt piano
Irini Aravidou percussions
2 composers
Thierry Pécou direction
Michael Ellison direction
Olivier Perriquet video
Informations
www.ellisonotes.com www.thierrypecou.fr www.noafrenkel.com www.ensemble-dialogos.org/ Katarina Livljanic
New work by Thierry Pécou: commission by Festival Arabesques (Hamburg) and Festival d’Ambronay. Co-production Festival d’Ambronay, Festival Arabesques (Hamburg) and Théâtre de Cornouaille.