Feedback
Bert Bernaerts
A man discovers a space… Not just an ordinary space, as in every corner a musical surprise pops up. Together with the audience the man starts an exploration. Daily actions like cycling, drawing, gaming unexpectedly lead to music, sometimes produced by a musician on stage, sometimes generated by electronic installations controlled by the audience. One discovery comes after another and soon the air is filled with an interactive, visual concert.
Over the last decades, electronics have had an enormous influence on developments in the world of music. Composers, musicians within a wide range of styles and creative installation artists all make use of electronics and new technologies. During the past seasons Muziektheater Transparant, in collaboration with John Torso, conquered a corner of the world with Radio Ping Pong, that used the principles of improvised music.
Feedback was created in order of a collaboration between some international organisations, proceeding from the successful performance Radio Ping Pong. But this time it's the use of electronics in a game of musical ping-pong between the actors and the audience that opens the door to direct input and feedback. For Feedback, Transparant is collaborating with Steim, the leading institute for electronic and improvised music in Amsterdam. Bert Bernaerts provides new music for the production.
"The children seem to hesitate briefly at first, but after a while they change into exploring little characters, supporting the enthusiasm of the entire show. The finale of Feedback, with nearly ten guests on stage, is one big confusing cacophony. It really shows the benefits of this interactive charmful performance. It playfully makes the little brutes enthused about difficult music, without forgetting the audience.” De Morgen, 14.11.07
A production by Muziektheater Transparant in coproduction with STEIM. In order of and with support of Philharmonie-Luxemburg 2007, Musik Triennale Köln, Manchester International Festival, Jeunesse Austria.
Composition, trumpet, tuba and electronics Bert Bernaerts / play Rudi Galindo or Lars Senders / stage setting and light design Anne Van Es / electronical installations Michel Waisvisz and Frank Baldé (steim) and realised by René Wassenburg (Schrikdraad Elektronisch Ontwerp) / software and sound engineering Pieter Thijs