The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres

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

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