A scenic serenade / The Music Theatre of Lights
Description
hey Went and Planted the Seeds of Shadows Because the Light Started to Sprout
A staged serenade in one act for texts by Artur Alliksaar
(First public event at Black Box Studio)
They Went and Planted the Seeds of Shadows Because the Light Started to Sprout is a theatre piece of music and light inspired by the night with its nightmares, visions, delusions, shadows, colours, fears, sleepwalking and sleep talking, discovery of new worlds, letting go of the old, desire for renewal and awakening. Sleep unites us. We are all equal in sleep. During the night we are forming a community: a sleep community. At night the endless corridors of our subconsciousness process what we saw and heard during the day. There are two things certain in life: sleep and
death.
The composer and the director have selected poems about the night by Artur Alliksaar. His metaphorical, playful use of the Estonian language is extremely musical and inspirational. In Alliksaar’s texts, the sound associations and sound symbolism are in the foreground and his poetry has been characterized as having “the sonic primacy.”
They Went and Planted the Seeds of Shadows Because the Light Started to Sprout is not an opera. It is a stream of dream-like, freely structured scenes that begins in the evening and ends at dawn. What is happening to us when we are not awake? Are we all connected as an invisible community or do we completely disconnect from each other and wander into infinite loneliness?
They Went and Planted the Seeds of Shadows Because the Light Started to Sprout is an hour-long concert-performance of sound and lights, shadows, shades, and light flashes. The lighting design is an integral part of the work, which will be performed by seven instrumentalists and two singers.
In collaboration with YXUS Ensemble, Black Box Studio, Foundation NUKU and Viimsi Parish
Authors
Music: Ardo Ran Varres, Text: Artur Alliksaar
When and where
April 2016 Festival Estonian Music Days, Tallinn
Cast
Ardo Ran Varres (composer)
Liis Kolle (stage director)
Oliver Kulpsoo (lighting designer)
Reili Evart (costume designer)
Tammo Sumera (sound engineer)
Jaanika Kilgi (soprano)
Taniel Kirikal (baritone/countertenor)
YXUS Ensemble:
Mihkel Peäske (flute / bass flute)
Toomas Vavilov (clarinet / bass clarinet)
Peeter Sarapuu (bassoon / contra bassoon)
Harry Traksmann (violin)
Laur Eensalu (viola)
Leho Karin (cello, artistic director)
Madis Metsamart (percussion)