News
The season of stylish coats, woollen hats and elegant shoes has arrived and with it an array of exciting projects and events. While I spent most of the summer immersed in Hellenic myths and opera, the next few months will mainly turn around theatre, film and harps. If you live in London, Manchester or New York, it would be lovely to see you at one of the following events:
The Master and Margarita at the Space - Wednesday 29th October – Sunday 2nd November and Wednesday 5th – Sunday 9th November - 8pm -£10/£6 in advance £12/£8 on the door.
The Space is putting on an exciting production of Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita. As with last year's Stoppard double bill, I am composing the music for it and Henri Växby and I will perform live each night to add a drop of musical magic to this spellbinding story. Directed by Adam Hemming.
There will also be a Halloween Party on Friday 31st October after the performance - tickets are £20 (£10 when booked with any show) - where you can come and hang out with the undead from the devil's very own ball on the scariest night of the year. This is a fundraising event and everyone is urged to dress up for the occasion. Welcome drinks and other surprises included.
Tickets are available from the box office 020 7515 7799 or from www.space.org.uk or www.ticketweb.co.uk (search keyword: 'master')
The Space, 269 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3RS
Harp Days at Chetham's School of Music - 15th and 16th November
I've been commissioned to write a new work for massed harps for a weekend of workshops and concerts at Manchester's Chetham School of Music, where I will be composer in residence for a weekend. Harpists of all levels will here have the opportunity to work with distinguished harpist Eira Lynn Jones, Claire Jones (Royal Harpist to HRH – The Prince of Wales) and myself. We will workshop and perform my new work Flyways which will introduce many of the young performers to some contemporary harp techniques and I will also give a talk on my work in general.
Flyways - for massed harps draws inspiration from the study of bird migration, a subject for which I am very much indebted to my brother Benji who is a keen birdwatcher. It follows in many ways in the steps of Anthill for ten harps, which was commissioned by HCMF 2007 and explores further the fascinating sound world of massed harps.
http://www.chethams.com/
New York - 17th-24th November
I am very much looking forward to spending a week in New York. A couple of performances are programmed where I'll be playing to silent films by Ana Isabel Ordonez exploring the thematics of Film Noir with distinguished musicians Herb Robertson, Mat Maneri, Roby Glod and possibly a few others.
Thurs 20th November at Monkeytown/Brooklyn http://www.monkeytownhq.com
Sun 23rd November at Cornelia St Cafe, Greenwich Village, 21.30 http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com
www.labelleusine.com
Rhodri Davies performs Tea Ceremony at Spitalfields Festival - Toynbee Hall - 16th December - 7.30-8.30 pm
Another chance to hear my Tea Ceremony for solo harp.
Hear the Harp as you've never heard it before! Harnessing and stretching the expressive capabilities of the instrument to the full, Rhodri Davies performs works by 1960s pioneers and younger composer including his own piece Cresis, featuring instant composition and improvisation.
On the program:
Christian Wolff For 1, 2 or 3 People
Catherine Kontz Tea Ceremony
Michael Parsons Constellations
Rhodri Davies Cresis
Anton Lukoszevieze H.ARP
Tickets are £10 from www.spitalfieldsfestival.org.uk
I am very excited about showing all these works at the festival alongside performances by Scottish Opera, Tête-à-Tête Opera, SharpWire, Errollyn Wallen, Chroma and many more.
Ingrained Deeds, Bird Seeds and other Granular Material includes:
- 'Neige', a short staged sound-poem which explores the beauty of the cold and the whiteness of silence gradually being immersed in a bath of warmer colours. A pure voice and a crystal piano draw the audience into a surreal world of snow. Soprano Véronique Nosbaum will join me for this.
-'Twitching' - For a whistling voice and singing birdwatchers. This is a musical fable dealing with captivity and loss of privacy and features Ellan Parry as a soloist.
-Two Fragments of my new experimental opera 'Electra' which has been created in collaboration with designer Ellan Parry (who worked with me on MiE) and librettist Alexia Anastasiadis.
First extract: Prequel; The night of Agamemnon's murder, the servants of the Mycenaean royal house hear screams and gather to talk among themselves. Featuring Brigitte Beraha, Sara Underwood, Melanie Sanders, Louise Adamson, Kathleen Garner, Heidi Pinder, DJ Walde, Edmund Saddington, Danny Standing, Wasim Al-Zibari, Andrew Ballm and Philip Anastasiadis.
Second extract: Electra has tricked Clytemnestra into coming alone to an isolated location, where she will be murdered. As Clytemnestra approaches in the distance, Electra waits. Featuring: Sibylla Meienberg (Electra), Véronique Nosbaum (Clytemnestra).
Musicians include Henri Växby, Allison Rosser, Candida Caldicot-Bull and Troy Banarzi.
Conducted by Tom Shorter.
We are programmed as a 'main course' (between the 'starter performance' and the 'desert') at 20.30 on both nights. It will cost you a fiver (£4 conc.) to see just our show. It may be fun however to watch the other two acts of the night as well (£12.50 for the whole evening) or £25 for the Meal Ticket for which you get served a two-course meal between the performances. For tickets and more information go to www.riversidestudios.co.uk or www.tete-a-tete.org.uk or phone the box office on 020 8237 1111.
It would be great to see you there!!
The rest of the summer I will be recording with cArtridge and roaming around Moscow.
More Seeds.....
One more date for those further up North. I will be performing with Angharad Davies and Jez Riley French in Hull as part of the 'Seeds and Bridges' concert series on 12th September 2008.
Press Release:
Electra
A New Experimental Opera.
by Catherine Kontz, Ellan Parry and Alexia Anastasiadis
An exciting new interpretation of Electra, the classic Greek myth of matricide and revenge which has traditionally fascinated the world of opera, is currently being developed by London-based trio Kontz/Parry/Anastasiadis. This new experimental version focuses on the troubling and gripping story at the myth's core, while flexing expectations and exploring a rich compilation of vocal techniques. The creators aim to deliver a lean and vibrant treatment of this absorbing story.
Extracts of Electra will be staged at this year's Tête-à-Tête opera festival as part of 'Ingrained Deeds, Bird Seeds and Other Granular Material: Neige, Twitching & Electra'.
7th and 8th August 2008, 8.30pm
Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, London, W6 9RL
Composer: Catherine Kontz (PhD) Catherine has recently been commissioned for new works by Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Rational Rec/London, Centre National de L'Audiovisuel/ Luxembourg and Banque centrale du Luxembourg. She has also written for BJ Cole, Kate Ryder, Rhodri Davies, Ebba Erikzon and Tongue Stuff. In 2006, she produced a sold-out run of her experimental music theatre work 'MiE' at the Space, London. She records and performs with her band cartridge, and is a member of 'une cartouche'. www.catherinekontz.com
Librettist: Alexia Anastasiadis is a writer and artist. Previous projects include Shrines at the Eden Project, a residency at the Tou Scene Arts Centre in Norway, and various works with the Society of Wonders.
Designer: Ellan Parry is a deviser and designer for theatre, opera, dance and live art. Recent projects include Supermarket DJ (Brian/ BAC), The Pink Bedroom (Unspoken Productions), the Terror 2007 season (The Sticking Place) and Carmen (dir. Bill Bankes-Jones). www.ellanparry.co.uk
Count Siegfried visits the Isle (twice) - the British target Helsinki - an ad hoc organisation is formed - a carefully chosen delegation travels to Luxembourg - the manufacture of revolutionary cArtridge material
Is wholesome even for the King.
(Emily Dickinson)
The last few months have been busy and creative and I have a few exciting events coming up this spring.
Pianist Kate Ryder will be performing 'Siegfried & Melusina', my new work for toy pianos, shadow puppetry and a musical box as part of The Space Enterprise Festival/KATE RYDER: TOY PIANOS INC in London this Saturday, 12th April as well as on Sunday 4th May. You should not miss this opportunity to hear a great variety of newly commissioned pieces on Kate's wonderful array of little pianos. Ellan Parry has designed the beautiful puppets for my piece. My little Jaymar and I will also join Kate for a performance of Cage's rarely performed Music for Amplified Toy Pianos on both occasions. With drinks and great food available upstairs at the Space's bar/restaurant, the Isle of Dogs seems like a great place to spend part of your weekend. This is also something that children might really enjoy to see. More details below.
I am very excited about a series of lecture-recitals and concerts curated by Henri Vaxby, John Lely and myself in Helsinki, 22nd-24th May. We will present British experimental music from the 60s to the present day in a visit to Tölö Gymnasium and a club-night organised together with the Korvat Auki (Open Ears) organisation of composers held at the Sibelius Academy. 'A British Invasion' will culminate in a concert at Koko Teatteri on Saturday, 24th May. More details below.
Ad hoc returns with an event in Camberwell on Saturday, 17th May. Henri Vaxby will perform Cahiers Trouvés, my graphic score for solo electric guitar which was commissioned earlier this year for Rational Rec. This is always a nicely social evening where young composers and performers can showcase their work within a friendly atmosphere.
Finally, something for my friends in Luxembourg. I have been commissioned by the Banque centrale de Luxembourg to write a new work which will be premiered at the presentation of the annual budget on 17th June. I am writing, for this occasion, for violin, guitar, harp and tabla and I am very excited to be working with excellent musicians Angharad Davies (violin), Rhodri Davies (harp), Ansuman Biswas (tabla and hang) and Henri Vaxby (guitars) who will be travelling with me to the Grand Duchy. Unfortunately this concert is by invitation only.
However, there is another concert of improvised and experimental music that we are giving on Thursday, 19th June at the Galerie Nosbaum & Reding in Luxembourg-City. I will post more details on my website and myspace page as and when I have them. It is possible that there may be other events as we are planning to set up camp in my parents' house for a week.
And last but not least, Henri and I have been busy writing and arranging new material for cArtridge. We are working on a new record which should be out in the Autumn. On 29th April we will play in Bristol (Tiny Radio at the Blue Lagoon Nights). We are waiting to confirm some more dates so keep checking www.myspace.com/cartridge if you are interested in seeing us live.
That's about it! You can find more details for all of these events below here. For more information and additions/changes/updates please check my website www.catherinekontz.com and www.myspace.com/catherinekontz which will always have the latest news. I don't send reminders for events, so do make a note now if anything interests you.
I wish you all a fun spring with April showers to bring us May flowers and a little sun in June.
KATE RYDER: TOY PIANOS INC
Saturday 12th April 7.30 pm and Sunday, 4th May at 6.00 pm
Toy pianos, prepared piano, music boxes, DVD, and shadow puppets
Ever since John Cage, composers have been fascinated by Toy Pianos and have written extensively for them. Kate Ryder explores a fascinating Lilliput world with her collection of little pianos dating from 1904 to the present day. This unique event also features shadow puppets, music boxes, DVD and prepared piano as interpreted by an international spectrum of composers - John Cage, Kyle Gann, Stephen Montague, Roger Redgate and Errollyn Wallen, with exclusive premieres by Yumi Hara Cawkwell, Simon Katan, Catherine Kontz and John Lely. Kate is also joined by friends for a performance of Cage's rarely performed Music for Amplified Toy Pianos
Tickets: £8 £6 concessions
Prebook or on the door
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user?query=search®ion=xxx&category=misc&search=Toy+Pianos
www.kateryder.co.uk
puppets by Ellan Parry www.ellanparry.co.uk
THE SPACE ENTERPRISE FESTIVAL
269 WESTFERRY RD LONDON E14 3RS, Mudchute DLR
020 7515 7799 - www.space.org.uk
http://www.space.org.uk/map.php
A British Invasion
concert of British experimental music from the 60s to the present day
presented by Henri Vaxby, John Lely, Catherine Kontz.
Saturday 24.05.08
Koko Teatteri
Unioninkatu 45
Helsinki
starts 7.30 pm
Tickets 8 €, (5€ conc.)
www.kokoteatteri.fi
www.myspace.com/vaxby
www.johnlely.co.uk
www.catherinekontz.com
Ad Hoc 2008 - May 17th, 8pm, Synergy Centre, Camberwell.
Another line up of vocal, theatrical and instrumental works being premiered this evening.
The program includes
Laura Moody - an eclectic and explosive mixture of cello and voice
Betsy and her voices present a new work devised around the idea of REM sleep patterns
Raymond Hardy presents a brand new female vocal trio and solo piece
Morag Galloway, in collaboration with Ian MacDonald present the world premiere of 'Exercise In Futility', an exciting and thought provoking piece of music theatre.
Angharad Davies will perform Henri Vaxby's new work for solo violin and voice.
Henri Vaxby performs Cahiers Trouvés, a graphic score by Catherine Kontz based on French Nouvelle Vague.
suggested donation of £8 and £6 on the door
Everyone can/needs to bring his own drink as we can't run a bar there...
Angharad Davies, Ansuman Biswas, Catherine Kontz, Henri Vaxby
and Rhodri Davies in Luxembourg
Tuesday 17th June
Premiere of new work commissioned by the Banque centrale du Luxembourg. By invitation only.
Thursday 19th June
Experimental scores and free improv at
Galerie Nosbaum & Reding, Art Contemporain
4 rue Wiltheim, L-2733 Luxembourg
www.nosbaumreding.lu
www.ansuman.com
www.angharaddavies.com
www.rhodridavies.co.uk
www.myspace.com/vaxby
www.catherinekontz.com
www.myspace.com/catherinekontz
cArtridge
Next Gig: Tuesday 29th April
Tiny Radio at Blue Lagoon Nights, Bristol
http://www.myspace.com/tinyradiobristol
www.myspace.com/cartridge
www.cartridgetheband.com
Cahiers Trouvés for Henri Växby
The first event of this year will take place at the February edition of Rational Rec, the monthly interart social occasion at the Bethnal Green Working Mens Club. This time, they have commissioned six composers to write a new work for the occasion. Henri Vaxby will play my new large-format score for solo electric guitars, Cahiers Trouvés which is inspired by the Cahiers du Cinema and the French Nouvelle Vague films of the 1950s/1960s. The other featured composers are Michael Finnissy, Laurence Crane, Alwynne Pritchard, Jonathan Powell and Gys Kramer. New Rational Music offers new audiences a unique opportunity to experience contemporary music in a welcoming setting, contrasting with the usual concert venues traditionally associated with notated music. Come along and be artistically, intellectually and alcoholically stimulated. www.rationalrec.org.uk
Tuesday 5 February 2008
New Rational Music
Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, 44 Pollard Row, London E2 6NB
Doors open 8pm, first act 8.30pm, entry £5
Siegfried & Melusina (for toy pianos, musical boxes and shadow puppetry) for Kate Ryder
On 13th February, Kate Ryder will premiere my new solo piece for toy pianos, shadow puppetry and musical boxes at Liverpool University. The piece is based on the Luxembourgish version of the tale of Melusina, the mermaid who was married to count Siegfried of Luxembourg. Ellan Parry, with whom I have previously collaborated on 'MiE' , 'Neige', and 'Purblind in … The New Adventures of Dead-Eye Parry and the Blindfold Cat', is designing the puppets for the show. Siegfried & Melusina will be performed again in London and possibly in the States later in the year.
www.kateryder.co.uk www.ellanparry.co.uk
'Melusina is said to have been the wife of the founder of Luxembourg, Count Siegfried. When they married, she had one particular request, namely that Siegfried must leave her alone for one full day and night every month, and that he should not ask or try to find out what she was doing. Of course, Melusina was such a beautiful girl, that Siegfried could not refuse her this one small wish, and all went well for years and years, when on the first Wednesday of the month, Melusina would retire into her chambers in the "Casemates," a network of caverns underneath the city, not to be seen again until early light on Thursday. But one day, Siegfried's curiosity got the better of him. Wondering what on earth she might be doing alone all the time, he peeped through the keyhole, and was shocked to see that Melusina was lying in the bathtub, with a fishtail hanging over the rim. As you all know, mermaids like Melusina, have a very keen sixth sense, which tells them instantly that they are being watched, and thus she recognized her husband through the door, and jumped out of the window into the river Alzette below, never to be seen again. -- Except every now and then, some people say they have seen a beautiful girl's head pop out of the river, and a fishtail rippling the calm waters of the river Alzette.' http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/legends.html#melusina
MiE review
The MiE DVD recently got reviewed on the SPNM website for their New Notes Magazine. Here is an extract from it. You can find the whole review on the MiE page on this website or on www.spnm.org.uk
Click here to buy your copy of the DVD for £10
'...the musicians are not hidden away in a pit but are visibly present throughout (possibly due to limited theatre space, but they seem a part of the total theatrical conception) acting like a white-suited landscape to contrast with the mimes. The music does not support the visual action as such but acts as a parallel stream, establishing a subconsciously symbiotic relationship between sound and visual action. The soundworld exists somewhere between an experimental, sometimes ethereal world of recorders, glass harmonica, analogue electronics, and the Wizard's water-based sounds, and a more hieratic, strident brass and percussion-led sound reminiscent of Messiaen and Birtwistle....This DVD film of the event (sold out over a six night run) is very well handled, with the use of subtle video effects in certain sections which serve the piece well....The sheer effort of mounting a large-scale, independent event like this deserves hearty applause for Kontz and her collaborators, but the piece too is well worth exploring and bodes well for future developments.'
Stephen Chase, New Notes Reviews, December 2007
More stuff
On Wednesday, 27th February, Icons of Elegance will be playing the Electroacoustic Club at the Slaughtered Lamb, London. Depending on if the Vaxby brothers need me, I may join the on piano or Wurlitzer. They will probably be previewing tracks from their forthcoming third album which is being mixed at the moment. More info at www.iconsofelegance.com and www.myspace.com/iconsofelegance.
In 2008 you can also expect a new work involving Rhodri and Angharad Davies and a trip to Luxembourg, a concert of new music in Helsinki, Finland curated by Henri Vaxby, John Lely and myself as well as the beginnings of working on a large scale collaborartion with Ellan Parry and Alexia Anastasiadis. There will be some changes and additions to my website with films and recordings of 'MiE', 'Neige' and 'Anthill' coming soon. I will also be starting my own publishing company for my scores, which will be available to buy from my website. My band Cartridge will be recording their second album in April and une cartouche, the free improv duo I have with Henri Vaxby, will have a couple of appearances and a possible release. It should be a very exciting year!
Here are some events and performances that I was involved with in November and December.
I have written music for two Tom Stoppard plays (The Real Inspector Hound and Doggs Hamlet) for which I will be playing live together with Henri Vaxby in the five performances this weekend at the Space in London. (More info below)
I have also composed some of the music for a production of Tony Harrison's first Mystery play :'The Nativity' which will run at St Paul's church on the Covent Garden Piazza for two weeks in November. It looks like it will be a great production!! (More info below).
If you live further up north, you might want to come and see the brilliant 'Branches', an ensemble of 10 to 20 harps under the leadership of Rhodri Davies and Eira Lynn Jones in Huddersfield on 21st November. My new work 'Anthill' for ten harps, a Huddersfield Contemporary Music festival commission, will receive its first performance alongside works by Michael Parsons and John Cage. Unless you travel to harp conventions, you will probably never get to hear that many harps together!!! (More info below)
Finally, I will be performing at the opening of the new 'Centre National de L'Audiovisuel' in Dudelange, Luxembourg for which I was commissioned to write a short piece for Veronique Nosbaum, soprano and myself on piano. This new work 'Neige' is inspired by the beautiful novel of the same name by Maxence Fermine, which I very very warmly recommend. It is probably the most beautiful little book I have ever read. It's called 'Snow' in English. There are some theatrical elements again in the performance and Ellan Parry, the wonderful designer who worked with me on MiE last year has made costumes for us. Unfortunately this concert on 7th december is strictly by invitation only. But hopefully Veronique and I can perform it again in Luxembourg and London in the near future. http://www.cna.public.lu/
Below you find a bit more information about each of these events. Hopefully I will see some of you at one or the other show.
I would also like to remind you that you can now buy a DVD from the MiE production at the Space last year for £10 from my website www.catherinekontz.com and www.myspace.com/catherinekontz. Running time 75 min.
If I don't see you before Christmas, have a nice and relaxing holiday!!
In 2008, you can look forward to a new piece for toy pianos and shadow puppets written for pianist Kate Ryder, a new work at the Rational Rec evening in February and a large work commissioned by the Banque centrale de Luxembourg featuring Rhodri Davies, Angharad Davies and Henri Vaxby. Plus a new record from my band Cartridge. Yeay!!!
Dog Season: Tom Stoppard's 'The Real Inspector Hound' and 'Doggs Hamlet' at the Space on the Isle of Dogs
We proudly present our premier in-house artistic season: a canine-themed double bill by Tom Stoppard. Dogg's Hamlet ingeniously explores the language of theatre through slapstick farce and witty wordplay, whilst whodunits and histrionics send up the world of the critics in The Real Inspector Hound. You'd be barking mad to miss it.
This Friday, 2nd November at 20.00
Saturday 3rd November at 14.00 and 20.00
Sunday 4th November at 14.00 and 20.00
If you book in advance it's cheaper. Otherwise £12/£8.
Get tickets from the Space Box office 020 7515 7799 or from www.ticketweb.co.uk
More info on www.space.org.uk
Here's the address: The Space, 269 Westferry Rd, Isle of Dogs, Mudchute DLR , London, E14 3RS
Iris Theatre presents Tony Harrison's first Mystery play: 'The Nativity' at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London - 13th-24th November 2007 at 19.30 every night.
This November, Iris Theatre (www.iristheatre.com) will follow up its successful March run of 'Murder in the Cathedral' with a production of Tony Harrison's first Mystery play, 'The Nativity'. It's a new production of a 1985 National Theatre sellout.
The production is being staged in the dramatic setting of Inigo Jones' St Paul 's Church, a Grade 1 listed building in Covent Garden's Piazza. Fittingly, St Paul 's is known as 'The Actors' Church.'
Seven hundred years after The Mystery plays were first conceived, Tony Harrison's earthy poetry rings with the authentic voice of the working men and women who created it. This play is a celebration of English folk culture up to this day. (go to http:en/wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery play for a history of the Mystery plays in England )
The production will lift your spirits with song, dance and music , and contrary to your memories of Sunday school, is full of laughter, as well as tears.
Iris Theatre is a new professional theatre company born out of the experience and energy of several Central Saint Martins (Drama Centre) theatre graduates.
Performances will run November 13th to November 24th 2007 at 7.30pm every night with Sunday matinee on November 18 th at 3pm. November 13th is the gala opening and press night with invited guests including Dame Judi Dench and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams. Please contact Dan Winder (07890) 322 375 for tickets.
Tickets are also available from www.ticketweb.co.uk , 08700 600 100 (£13, £10 concessions). Entrance to the Church on Bedford Street. Tube: Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
'Branches' at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2007
21st November 2007 - St Paul's Hall - Huddersfiled - 18.00
Rhodri Davies, harp - Eira Lynn Jones, harp
with students from the RNCM, University of Huddersfield and Cheltham's School of Music
Program:
John Cage: Postcard from Heaven
Michael Parsons: Constellations for massed harps
Catherine Kontz: Anthill (HCMF commission)
'This is the debut concert of Rhodri Davies' new ensmble 'branches' where he assembles twenty harpists to perform massed harp music. The infrequently perfromed John Cage's Postcard from Heaven for 1-20 harps calls on the harpists to improvise on ragas. The ensemble will also perform Michael Parsons' pointillistic composition, Constellations, and a new work by the radical composer Catherine Kontz' (from HCMF 2007 brochure)
Here is a bit about my piece:
Anthill the conduct of ant-life with its leader-less social organisation. Like forager ants, the ten harpists independently embark on a cross-country adventure that takes them through ever-changing landscapes. They occasionally stumble on 'trails', 'pick up' objects, 'visit' neighbouring colonies and 'take shelter' from intermittent rains. Although all elements of Anthill are predetermined and composed, the large graphically-inspired score allows the performers great freedom of choice.
Tickets £10 (£8 concession) from www.hcmf.co.uk or box office 01484 430528
July and August will see a few performances of Purblind in... , a new exciting work devised in collaboration with Ellan Parry. Each performance is site-specific and follows the story-line of Dead-Eye Parry and the Blindfold Cat as descibed in the blurbs in the 'works' section.
28th July: Purblind in Greenwich: the New Adventures of Dead-Eye Parry and the Blindfold Cat @ Viewfinder Photography Gallery, Linear house, Peyton place, Greenwich, London
9th and 10th August: Purblind in Hammersmith for more adventures of Dead-Eye Parry and the Blindfold Cat @ the Riverside Studios, London, as part of the Tete-à-tete opera festival
11th August: Purblind in Wales: Dead-Eye Parry and the Blindfold Cat @ the Rainbow Spirit Enlightenment Fayre, Chepstow Racecourses, Wales
On 12th August, one of my new graphic scores will be performed by special guests and myself at the RSEF festival. I will also be playing there with my band Cartridge and with Icons of Elegance who are one of the festivals headliners.
On 13th August, I'll be joining Icons of Elegance again for a performance at 93 Feet East, Brick Lane, London.
June 2007
First, I'm very excited to announce that I've been commissioned by Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival to write a piece for HCMF 2007. Ten minutes for ten harps. It will be fun!!
Upcoming performances:
21st June - une cartouche @ Rivington Gallery, London (Old St/Liverpool St tubes). Doors 19.00. We're on first. More info @ www.myspace.com/unecartouche
Ellan Parry (costume and set design on MiE) and I have also been putting our heads together and you will be able to see the fruits of our combined imagination at a gallery in Greenwich in July (date tbc.), as part of the Operafest at the Riverside Studios and at the RSEF festival in Wales in August. So watch out for: 'Purblind in ... : the new adventures of Dead-Eye Parry and the Blindfold Cat - a new work for two performers and seven objects, created and performed by Ellan Parry and Catherine Kontz'. Coming to a theatre near you soon!!
Furthermore, David Reid and I just finished the editing for the DVD of the MiE performances at the Space last November. There will be a screening. There will be DVDs to have and to hold. Soon. Soon.
Don't forget to check www.myspace.com/catherinekontz for last minute updates/changes. Also, if you would like to join my mailing list, just drop me a line (see contact page). I send out personal invitations to events and things from time to time.
Keep out of the sun!
May 2007
After a well-deserved holiday following the submission of my PhD portfolio, I'm back on track composing, creating and generally doing stuff. My vocal piece 'Spannen', which had its premiere by 'badinage' alias 'tongue stuff' at an ad hoc concert in London in March, will be performed again at a concert promoted by Treffpunkt at The Warehouse/ London in the afternooon of 26th May. (myspace.com/
catherinekontz)
With Cartridge, Henri and I have been recording a session for Dandelion Radio which you should be able to hear at some point this summer. We have also started preparing the next album and booking gigs for summer.
(myspace.com/
cartridge).
Also, watch out for an improv performance by Henri (guitar and things) and me (toy piano, CS5, reed organ etc.) at a gallery in Old Street in June. And finally, you can find me plucking a few piano strings on the Wedding Present's Complete John Peel Sessions 1986-2004 released in March.
As always, there is more information as well as last minute additions/changes on myspace.com/
catherinekontz.
December 2006:
Still on a high from the wonderful MiE experience, I'm slowly starting to think about new projects, new pieces, seeing if I can find another home for MiE - maybe a slightly larger one as all the November shows were sold out - and all things Cartridge again for 2007.
There are a few things planned already:
In July I will be at the Rainbow Spirit Enlightment
Fayre Festival in Wales with my bandCartridge.
I will probably also play some piano for Icons of Elegance who are plaing the same festival and to top it off I'm curating/playing a set of my more experimental music.
Also, I have been commissioned by the Banque centrale du Luxembourg to write a new chamber ensemble work for them which is fantastic!
I'm also hoping that we are having a new Cartridge album recorded and out by the end of the year.
So lots of plans already :-)This website will also be updated regularly and there will be some changes to the works section, so keep an eye out for that. Hopefully you will soon be able to hear and view some of MiE here too. That's all from me now for 2006.
I wish you all a lovely Christmas and a'gudde Rutsch' into the new year. And whatever you cook will tastebetter with a pinch of magic!