GHOST IN THE MACHINE
Cyborg pianist meets Ensemble Offspring. Ghost in the Machine ventures to the edge of human creativity, technology, sound and machines.
DETAILS
Friday 13 August, 7pm, The Neilson, ACO On The Pier
Pre-concert talk 6pm
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ACCESSIBLE PROGRAM
PROGRAM
FIONA HILL New Work (2027)*#
flutes, clarinets, percussion, piano, violin, cello
LINDA BUCKLEY Ghost in the Machine (2027)*^
flutes, clarinets, percussion, piano, violin, cello
LAURENCE OSBORN New Work (2027)*^
flutes, clarinets, percussion, piano, violin, cello
CIARAN FRAME Conditions of Stillness (2027)*^
airsticks, flutes, clarinets, percussion, piano, violin, cello
*World Premiere
#Commission supported by Ensemble Offspring through the generous support of Peter Howard
^The new works by Linda Buckley, Laurence Osborn and Ciaran Frame were commissioned by Zubin Kanga as part of Cyborg Soloists, supported by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Concert Duration: 70 minutes, no interval
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PERFORMERS
Zubin Kanga (piano soloist)
Lamorna Nightingale (flutes)
Jason Noble (clarinets)
Claire Edwardes (percussion/Artistic Director)
Véronique Serret (violin)
Blair Harris (cello)*
*The loan of Blair’s Sydney cello is generously supported by Kirsty McCahon & Kees Boersma
DESCRIPTION
Cyborg pianist Zubin Kanga once again meets Ensemble Offspring, venturing to the edge of human creativity, technology, sound and machines in Ghost In The Machine - the second chapter in our genre-defying ’Machine’ collaboration.
In a bold collision of human and machine, we present four thrilling world premieres by Ciaran Frame, Fiona Hill (AUS), Laurence Osborn (UK) and Linda Buckley (Ireland), each pushing sonic territories to the extreme. These composers conjure strange, futuristic and sometimes far-out musical worlds, brought to life by Ensemble Offspring and Zubin’s virtuosic performance.
Expect live electronics manipulated through movement, dazzling lighting, captivating visuals and music that transforms futuristic ideas into a visceral, exhilarating experience of sound and vision. This is a performance where technology becomes an extension of the body, where machines respond to movement, and where the boundaries between human and artificial, performer and technology, sound and spectacle begin to blur. As Limelight puts it, it is “not only listenable, but thrilling to watch”.
The Future is a Mystery - we invite you to hang on to every note with joy, curiosity and perhaps for dear life.
“The electronics were fresh, live and responsive, and the music condensed far-out ideas into something not only listenable, but thrilling to watch, complemented by a dazzling light show.”
“foregrounded digital technology as a tool of musical extension, creation and transformation. … This program was notable for its energy and variety..”
“Kanga is an equally exciting pianist, effortlessly virtuosic and in complete command of this (quite literally) electrifying modern repertoire.”
“Here is EO at its most adventurous and its strongest, with sharply-refined performing chops to follow through on its ambitious programmatic swing.”
“Ensemble Offspring deserves its reputation of leading the performance of new music in Sydney. They are ever willing to try new works, and to commission them. They perform with joy, enthusiasm and great skill.”
“Chamber techno, new music mayhem … EO goes big and bold, and invites London-based piano alumnus Zubin Kanga back home to join the party with a range of strange tech in his arsenal.”
Accessibility Information
If you have accessibility requirements, please reach out to the friendly Ensemble Offspring team by emailing admin@ensembleoffspring.com.
SUPPORTED BY
Ensemble Offspring is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Photo: Zubin Kanga by Robin Clewley
