Void – Presented by Argo

distant, detached, ethereal, other-worldly :: void beckons you forth on passage from darkness to light

argo
VOID
music for voice, violin, piano + electronics

In partnership with Opera Queensland, Argo gives you a rare opportunity to see behind-the-scenes into the bowels of Opera Q’s Studios. Dark and surreal, their rehearsal spaces are the perfect blank canvas to create this dreamlike experience, featuring three of Australia’s most alluring soloists, Merlyn Quaife, Monica Curro, and Stefan Cassomenos. Underpinning the whole night are ambient electronics in surround sound by Connor D’Netto, and glitchy video art by Slato (aka Benjamin Fitzpatrick).

Undulating drones, ambient electronics, live-manipulated instruments, and virtuosic performances equally plaintive, lyrical and acrobatic, combine in this spellbinding event. The program includes George Crumb’s elegiac settings of poetry by Walt Whitman, Apparition, Ben Heim’s haunting Black Light Songs, Simon Charles’ Be More Silent, contrasted by Nico Mulhy’s beautiful yet slightly unhinged Drones & Violin, and John Adams rollicking Road Movies, all brought together with a new work by Connor D’Netto.

THE PROGRAM
Drones & Violin – Nico Muhly
Black Light Songs – Ben Heim
Be More Silent – Simon Charles
Apparition – George Crumb
Road Movies – John Adams
new commission* – Connor D’Netto

*world premiere, commissioned by argo in 2017

THE ARTISTS
Merlyn Quaife – soprano
Monica Curro – violin
Stefan Cassomenos – piano
Connor D’Netto – electronics
Slato (aka Benjamin Fitzpatrick) – live visuals

Argo is proudly supported by Creative Sparks, a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.