in honor of Ms. Jeanette Lerman Neubauer's birthday 
premiered April 20, 2016 at the Curtis Institute of Music
jean-michel richer, tenor
gloria ferry-brennan, violin
chen cao, cello

CONUNDRUM
A woman seeks the highest truth.
A light shines, seducing.
Light.  Shining light.
Where is revelation?  
Pure truth.  Pure light.
Come close to see.
The highest truth is without image.
But without image, how can the truth be known?
The light blinds.  The woman fails.
She turns to words for solace.
Words seduce.  
The highest principle is without words.
But if there are no words, how can the principle be known?

Lyrics by Jeanette Lerman

Based on a Zen koan allegedly found on a Buddhist sculpture, quoted in English, and discovered by the author on the Internet.


Conundrum -- tenor + vln + vcl + loop pedal

Rencontre publique avec le contreténor Franco Fagioli, interprète de Piacere dans "Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno" (Haendel), nouvelle production du Festival d'Aix-en-Provence 2016. Modération Saskia de Ville.
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Public encounter with countertenor Franco Fagioli, singing the role of Piacere in "Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno" (Handel), new production of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence 2016. Interview led by Saskia de Ville.

Tête-à-tête avec Franco Fagioli - Festival d'Aix 2016

VASCO MENDONÇA / Processions

In July 2012 the world premiere of the opera Written on Skin by George Benjamin was the highpoint of the Festival in Aix-en-Provence. The libretto by George Crimp tells the story of a cruel landowner, who hires an illuminator to record his deeds. When his wife Agnes starts an affair with him, her husband forces her to eat her lover's heart, after wich she commits suicide. 
Written on Skin is a coproduction of Aix; De Nederlandse Opera; Théatre du Capitol; Royal Opera House and Teatro del Maggio Musicale. I spoke with Benjamin before the production in Amsterdam. You find the full interview at https://theaderks.wordpress.com/2018/02/08/george-benjamin-on-his-opera-written-on-skin-we-emphasize-the-unnatural/
You can follow Thea Derks on Twitter: @tdrks

Benjamin on Written on Skin

Hear from the cast and creative team behind <i>Written on Skin</i> with contribution from singers Barbara Hannigan and Christopher Purves, composer George Benjamin and writer Martin Crimp. Presented by Sara Mohr-Pietsch at a recent ROH Insights event. Music taken from <i>Written on Skin</i> NI5885 courtesy of Nimbus Records. www.wyastone.co.uk

Tête-à-tête avec Franco Fagioli - Festival d'Aix 2016

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