Remix Ensemble . Matthias Pintscher

The Portuguese Remix Ensemble is making its Belgian debut at deSingel, directed by an old acquaintance of the house, the young German composer, conductor and pianist Matthias Pintscher (b. 1971). Two of his works are on the programme: 'a twilight's song' for soprano and seven instruments, and a brand-new composition, 'Study 1 Treatise for the Veil', that will be first played in June 2005 by the violinist Frank Peter Zimmerman and cellist Heinrich Schiff. Both works are typical of Pintscher's preference for literary and theatrical inspiration. 'a twilight's song' is based on a poem by e.e. cummings. To provide a musical frame of reference, Pintscher selected radical ensemble pieces by two of his great examples: Kaija Saariaho (b. 1952), Harrison Birtwistle (b. 1934) and Luigi Nono (1924-1990). In Nono's 1955 'Canti per 13' we hear one of the most precise works for soprano and instruments by this socially-engaged Italian composer. Sir Harrison Birtwistle's 1977 'Silbury Air' refers to the scenery at Silbury (Wiltshire), which is dominated by an enormous prehistoric burial mound. This ensemble piece has an almost magical and initiatory character. The Northern Lights in Lapland were the inspiration for Kaija Saariaho's first poetic 'computer piece', the 1986 'Lichtbogen' (Arcs of Light).