Pflanzenpalaver

The Camerata Variabile’s third concert of the season is dedicated to plants’ communication. Texts by the Basel-based biologist Florianne Koechlin are paired with compositions in which plants and trees are given a voice in various ways. These include the new «Baumstück», which Carola Bauckholt is writing for the Camerata.

The starting point is the latest research into how plants communicate with one another. As part of the «Lost in Translation» season this also raises the question of how this communication can be translated into music.

Mezzo-soprano Katalin Károly offers a further perspective with Thomas Adès’ «Növények – Hungarian for plants», but in a broader sense also «things that grow». The programme is rounded off by a new work by Helena Winkelman featuring Hungarian texts, as well as older compositions in which botanical imagery serves as a mirror for human experiences.

With

Guests: Katalin Károly (mezzo-soprano); Dominique Gisler (narrator)
Helena Winkelman, Shernyiaz Mussakhan (violin); Alessandro D’Amico (viola); Christoph Dangel (cello); Stefka Perifanova (piano); Mikołaj Rytowski (percussion); N. N. (double bass)

Program

Reading: Extracts from Florianne Koechlin’s book «Pflanzenpalaver» (between pieces)

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943): «Lilacs» from 12 Romances (1902)
Leoš Janáček (1854–1928): «Dark Alder Forest» from «Diary of a Lost Man» (1919)
György Kurtág (\1926): «Like Flowers, People» from «Játékok» for piano
György Kurtág (\ 1926): «Like Flowers, People» from «Játékok» for string trio
Carola Bauckholt (\ 1959): «Baumstück» (2027, world premiere) for string quartet and percussion
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904): Excerpts from «Cypresses» (1887) for string quartet
Jean Sibelius (1865–1957): «The Sapin» from «The Trees», Op. 75 (1922) for solo piano
Thomas Adès (\1971): «Növények: Seven Hungarian Poems» (2022) for mezzo-soprano, piano, string quartet and double bass
Helena Winkelman (*\1974): «5 Hungarian Poems» (2026, SEA) for soprano, violin, cello and percussion
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904): String Quintet in G major, Op. 77 (1875)

Duration

120 minutes, with break

Prices

Standard CHF 45.-
Kulturlegi CHF 15.-
Staff cards CHF 10.-
Students and pupils CHF 0.- in advance, CHF 5.- on the door.

Links

→ camerata-variabile.ch