MUSIC: CANADA
“An event steeped in intellect and imagination.’’ The New York Times
Sublime music and stunning deep space imagery combine in Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra’s The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres. The world-renowned Canadian period instrument orchestra specialises in turning its concerts into theatrical events and Music of the Spheres is no exception.
Created to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s development of the telescope, the concert showcases music from
Monteverdi to Vivaldi, Bach and Handel. But it also features the spoken word – including Ovid’s poetry – and a series of
dazzling images, some taken from the Hubble Telescope, projected onto a 3.5 metre-high circular screen above the
players.
Due to the unique nature of the concert, the lights are dimmed to enhance the imagery. The players are also
choreographed to move about the stage, like planets around the sun. In order to achieve this, Tafelmusik’s players had
to commit the entire score to memory – a rare undertaking for a classical orchestra.
This is the first time the Toronto-based Tafelmusik (literally, music for the feast in German) has merged art with
music. Another project in 2012, House of Dreams, traces the connections between music and baroque painting.
Exploring the artistic, cultural and scientific world of 17th and 18th century astronomers, Music of the Spheres fuses music, words and images to create fascinating creative connections. “Tafelmusik and their various collaborators
have succeeded in teasing out thrilling links between artists and thinkers and providing new insights into these fine,
centuries-old works,” said CBC Canada.
The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres is at Wellington Town Hall on 16 March for the 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival, Wellington, 24 February –
18 March. Tickets $48 – $78 available from Ticketek.
ENDS
Co-production with The Banff Centre
With support from Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council