This fusion of hip-hop and contemporary dance showcases the beauty of the body as it is manipulated and consumed. A couple on and off stage, Sébastien Ramirez is a Frenchman of Spanish descent who grew up steeped in hip-hop culture; Honji Wang is a classically trained German ballerina of Korean descent. In Monchichi, their contrasting backgrounds and aesthetics explosively meet in a performance that confronts identity, love and the enigma of culture.
Silencio Blanco explores voice through the power of silence in a world where corporate greed feeds corruption. A young man is thrown out of the coal pit where he works, and in a precarious attempt to protect his livelihood and support his family, takes on a new job in the infamously sinister mine El Chiflón del Diablo. Meanwhile, a community copes with this danger in its midst and the uncertainty it sparks in their every day lives.
Set against a stunning backdrop of moving imagery and text, Black Arm Band’s collective of magnetic musicians perform indigenous music in 11 different Aboriginal languages. This compelling musical journey through Australia’s cultural heartland is inspired by the words of author and indigenous land advocate Alexis Wright, and performed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. In a textural and joyful performance, history and the promise of the future inspire the heart and lift the spirit.
Jazz and Middle Eastern music intertwine in this dynamic sextet led by trumpeter and composer Amir ElSaffar. Deeply rooted in the musical traditions of Iraq, this music honors its origins while possessing a singularly unique sound, speaking the language of swing and improvisation. Distinct from other contemporary musical fusions, the resultant sound incorporates microtones rarely heard on the trumpet, as well as innovative strides in the maqam modal system performed on the santur (hammered dulcimer).
“Gorgeous, invigorating and accessible.” – NPR Music
“Classical music is dead” might seem like an odd slogan for a classical music ensemble, but The Nouveau Classical Project (NCP) has never been much for coloring inside the lines. Throwing away convention and enthusiastically embracing new kinds of audiences, NCP collaborates with designers and thrives at the intersection of fashion and art. Sacred-Profane explores a range of human polarity, pulling at loose strings until it unravels in a fitful explosion of profanity.
As the star of his own musical autobiography, comedian/musician/storyteller Ahamefule J. Oluo is electrifying. Part experimental pop opera for 17-piece orchestra and part comedic storytelling piece, Now I’m Fine is compellingly energetic, blending original music with darkly comic personal monologues about illness, despair and regeneration. A virtuosic performance by vocalist okanomodé further illuminates this deeply relatable story that ranges from epic to intimate. Oluo’s storytelling was recently featured on This American Life.
The energy of a rock concert, the sophistication of classical music and the accessibility of interactive technology meet in this high-energy ensemble. With exceptional talent and quirky artistry, they combine the driving intensity of drums, the warmth of marimbas and vibraphones, and the surprisingly exotic sounds of everyday objects to make music that is playful and profound. They’re known for ground breaking collaborations across a wide range of disciplines, including concerts and residency projects with engineers, architects and astronomers.
With its straightforward, unpretentious, energetic style, JACK Quartet focuses on the performance of music from new and contemporary composers. It has collaborated with John Luther Adams, Chaya Czernowin, Simon Steen-Andersen, Caroline Shaw and Helmut Lachenmann, among others.
“The go-to quartet for contemporary music, tying impeccable musicianship to intellectual ferocity and a take-no-prisoners sense of commitment." – The Washington Post
A giant motorized hurdy-gurdy, a deconstructed pipe organ and an array of spinning and thrashing metal machines tell a story about a man consumed by a grandiose plan to build a machine that will reconcile his memories of the past with his dreams for the future. Percussionist Steven Schick commands a stage filled with large-scale invented instruments, drawing the audience into a magical place filled with creative potential.
