Project : LIES of CIVILIZATION

Written for the Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart and the Ensemble PHACE

The Invisible (2019)
for tenor, bass, percussion, synthesizer and electronics

For Foucault, the real power will always rely on the ignorance of its agents. No single human, group nor single actor runs the dispositif (machine or apparatus) but power is dispersed through the apparatus as efficiently and silently as possible, ensuring its agents to do whatever is necessary.

Political power is exerted on individuals in a way that compels them to obey laws and rules on their own - without this show of force.

I like this idea of invisibility. An underlaying power, invisible and effective. (good or bad) What we hear, what we are told, what they want us to hear and what we want to hear.

The power of lying on high volume, consecutive, rapid and repetitive. The no commitment to reality and no commitment to consistency. That type of power that does not show its force. Power is defined as a possibility to influence others. And the variety of power tactics to push or prompt people into particular action.

I would like to specially thank the writers and books that inspired this piece. Texts and quotes from:

Sonic Agency - Brandon LaBelle
1984 - George Orwell
The end of the megamachine - Fabian Scheidler

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Neue Vokalsolisten Stuttgart

Truike van der Poel, Mezzosopran
Martin Nagy, Tenor
Guillermo Anzorena, Bariton
Andreas Fischer, Bass

Soloists of PHACE

Mathilde Hoursiangou, keyboard/sampler
Reinhold Brunner, clarinet(s)
Berndt Thurner, percussion

TEAM
Staging: Gable & Romy Roelofsen / Het Geluid Maastricht
Equipment: Davy van Gerven;
Light: Luc Schaltin
Dramaturgy: Georg Steker, Christine Fischer, Het Geluid
Idea and Concept: Georg Steker
Production Manager: Jakob Berger / Music of the Centuries Stuttgart

A coproduction by Musik der Jahrhunderte Stuttgart (DE), Musiktheatertage Wien (AT), Operadagen Rotterdam (NL), National Opera Bergen (NO) and Het Geluid Maastricht (NL).