Kon-Text

Programming William Walton's and Edith Sitwell's once provocative work with Graham Valentine as narrator is a pleasure for Ensemble Phoenix Basel in various ways. The English poet Edith Sitwell became an icon of the lesbian-gay movement not only through her poems, but also through her eccentric lifestyle and uncompromisingly non-conformist views, provoking many a scandal with her appearance as early as the early 1920s. At the premiere of «Façade», she spoke her surrealist verses invisibly behind a painted screen with a hole cut out for a huge megaphone.
In combination with the commissions to the two young composers Asia Ahmetjanova from Latvia and Charlotte Torres from France, both living in Switzerland, current artistic dynamite is guaranteed.

19:00 Concert introduction with Jürg Henneberger

With

Graham Valentine (Speaker), Ensemble Phoenix Basel, Jürg Henneberger (Musical Direction)

Program

Asia Ahmetjanova (*1992): «Bats and Icons» for ensemble (2023/24, premiere, commissioned by EPhB) 15'
Charlotte Torres (*1979): «Ton tonton tond ton thon et d'autres tons» for ensemble (2023/24, premiere, commission EPhB) 20'
William Walton (1902-1983): «Façade - an Entertainment» after poems by Edith Sitwell (1887-1964) for speaker and ensemble (1922) 38'

Duration

115 minutes, with break

Prices

CHF 35.-/25.-/15.- (free choice at the box office or in advance)
Free admission applies to persons with residence permit N, F or S. / CHF 5.- students of the Hochschule für Musik FHNW and the Musicology Seminar of the University of Basel / CHF 10.- members Colourkey and children under 12 years.

Links

→ ensemble-phoenix.ch