Uraufführung/World Premiere: 9. Februar 2014, Theaterhaus Stuttgart, Festival ECLAT

Eine Produktion von Musik der Jahrhunderte Stuttgart
Gefördert von der Kulturstiftung des Bundes, der Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung, dem Goethe Institut und der Akademie Schloss Solitude

The Mediterranean
A transcultural space straddling three continents, charged with history and myths, the cradle of democracy and the birthplace of three world religions. The space in which some of the most important achievements of civilization, namely the development of writing, the arts and philosophy had their beginnings. A space full of diversity and contradictions that has always been shaken by claims to power and fratricidal wars. A space in which Europe draws boundaries. A space in a state of change, struggling for forms of modern society. A place of longing.

The Protagonists
The project Mediterranean Voices is an interpretation of the Mediterranean region from the perspective of twelve artists either living in or originating from Mediterranean countries. New Music, Western music based on a European understanding of art, plays, if at all, a very small part in the cultural life of most Mediterranean countries (since the financial crisis and the collapse of arts funding, this has also been the case in most Southern European nations). Anyone living there who chooses to become a composer leaves their country and studies in Europe or North America, where many go on to retain their professional base. They belong to their country’s intellectual class, regardless of whether they live abroad or return home. Their situation as artists between professional singularity, critical distance from their native country and a deep rooting in their culture also gives them a special position, with the possibility of a clear, unvarnished, clear-sighted and empathic view on their country. We invited twelve composers from twelve countries between Spain and Egypt and between Syria and Morocco to develop a project about the Mediterranean region with the Neue Vocalsolisten, the video artist Daniel Kötter and the Greek architect Sofia Dona–an artistic space that would give us an idea of the themes and dynamics of this region.

The Mediators
Mediterranean Voices is also a project about the voice, which plays a special part in the music of the Mediterranean–whether in combination with text and poetry, liturgy and Qur’an recitation or archaic singing traditions in different cultures. But the voice also offers a wealth of means for artistic expression, and many composers from the Mediterranean in particular have developed a special affinity for this ‘instrument’. For over a year, the singers have been in close dialogue with the twelve protagonists of the project. Three symposia have allowed them to become acquainted and engage in artistic exchange, but have also located the project in the context of social and artistic themes. And twelve trips were taken: each singer visited one of the composers in their native country.

The Researcher
The video artist Daniel Kötter accompanied the Mediterranean Voices for over a year, filming their discussions and journeys and going on extended trips through the Mediterranean region with the sound expert Marcin Lenarczyk. In addition to the twelve portraits showing the composers’ artistic and cultural location in their home countries, he produced an artistically and documentarily unique video installation of 144 short clips. A gripping interpretation of the Mediterranean from the perspective of an investigative cameraman and artist.

Die Architektin
Die griechische Architektin Sofia Dona hat den Raum für die Aufführungen der Musik und der Videoinstallationen gestaltet. Sie musste eine Balance finden zwischen Poesie und Pragmatismus, zwischen Vision und Diplomatie. Die Anforderungen sind komplex: Wie gestaltet man eine ausgedehnte Videoausstellung inmitten einer Konzertsituation? Wie situiert man zwölf räumlich sich völlig unterscheidende Konzertstücke in einem einheitlichen Raum?