#LIEDINNOVATION 2023

The initiative #LIEDINNOVATION has provided international artists with the opportunity to apply for a concert at the RHONEFESTIVAL. Previous winners include: the ensemble LOVESONGS (2020), the concept LIEDMOVIES (2021) and the TRIO.S ENSEMBLE (2022). The 4th #SONGINNOVATION edition is seeking innovative visions from artists in connection with the extraordinary landscape of the Valais. How do contemporary ensembles interpret Lieder? What stories do they want to tell? And how can they present Lieder in a new context?

WINNER 2023 TAROT SONGS                                                              

CLARA BARBIER SERRANO SOPRANO
JOANNA KACPEREK PIANO

The concept of TAROT SONGS combines selected art songs with tarot cards. The audience is involved by drawing tarot cards and thus determining the course of the programme. In this way, a unique concert experience is created. The tarot cards can have a mysterious or spiritual connotation, but are mainly a game – just like the music itself. The simple and precise concept, which can be performed both in the concert hall and in the garden, the playful, mysterious, bohemian concert atmosphere, the contextualization of art songs from classical to contemporary music, the visual and participatory element, the sympathetic concert moderation, stage presence, and the outstanding artistic quality of the two musicians make this concept the #LIEDINNOVATION winner of 2023. Congratulations!"

2023 FINALISTS

LE BAISER DE LA ROSE

  • ENSEMBLE CONTRE LE TEMPS

    CÉCILE WALCH & KARIN WESTON SOPRANO
    JULIA MARTY & AMY FARNELL MEZZOSOPRANO

  • In LE BAISER DE LA ROSE the audience experiences a spring dream in which the protagonist falls in love with a rose in a blooming garden. Injured by Cupid’s arrow, the lover loves, suffers, and despairs over the lost love.

    In this programme, monodic singing and polyphonic songs of the 14th and 15th centuries alternate, with poignant harmonies complementing sensual melodies. Medieval texts juxtapose lively and timeless poetry, interpreted by a special lineup of four a cappella female voices. The conscious “withdrawal” into medieval music in our fast-paced time, the unknown repertoire, the narrative connection of two important medieval texts, as well as the timeless theme of love with a nature reference convinced the jury of this poetic-musical overall package.

WUNDERHORN

  • DUO GOGGLES

    ESTHER-ELISABETH RISPENS SOPRANO
    WIM PELGRIMS PERCUSSION

  • WUNDERHORN presents a semi-scenic (re)interpretation of the folk song text collection “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” for singing voice, narrative voice, and percussion. The Wunderhorn songs by Gustav Mahler serve as a musical basis, in original, arranged or newly composed (WARD DE JONGHE) form, creating a unique Wunderhorn fairy tale collage.

    Telling stories is considered one of the most important activities that connect people and stimulate imagination. The unusual and exciting lineup, the theatrical moment, the high musical quality, as well as the multidisciplinarity of the artists with mutual role assignments between narration, singing, percussion convinced the jury.

THE WANDERING (live version)

  • JEREMY WEISS SINGER/PERFORMER/ARTISTIC CO-DIRECTION
    EDWARD LIDDAL PIANO
    CALISTA SMALL ARTISTIC CO-DIRECTION

  • THE WANDERING is an immersive theater experience with Schubert’s songs between augmented reality, film, visual arts, drag performance, and audience interaction, which can be experienced either as a film or live. The narrative of THE WANDERING traces the journey of a person who moves from an everyday, uninspired reality into a magical world where anything is possible and where what makes us unique is fully accepted. Schubert’s music and life serve as a model for searching for one’s own individuality and love.

    This colossal film project, involving 30 artists, was created during the time of the pandemic and is now intended to create a living window into the world of film as a live version. Objects connect the physical reality with the projection, creating an interactive dimension for the audience.

    The jury was greatly appreciated the music-historical material, with a focus on Schubert’s historically controversial queerness, connecting with his music. His art songs are thus placed in a new context. THE WANDERING addresses current social issues such as gender discourse and offers a multifaceted, multidisciplinary, interactive concept with high-quality visual and musical material.

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2022