by Mike Telin
Creating mutually beneficial partnerships is the key to survival for arts organizations. As a result of seed grants from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, FiveOne Experimental Orchestra (51XO) and Ensemble Theatre have formed a strategic partnership that will allow both organizations to better serve their community-building goals.
The partnership will be celebrated at Ensemble Theater on April 8 and 9 at 7:30 pm when 51XO presents “Art Music in the Dark.” The program will feature classical musical works, all of which have been composed since 2010, accompanied by projected video art, largely manipulated in real time using iPad apps.
“I love the theatre atmosphere when the lights are down. It helps you focus on what’s happening onstage,” said 51XO’s executive director Jeremy Allen. “Having access to rehearsal space and to professional sound and light technicians is really great, especially for this program.”
The bulk of this weekend’s program will be comprised of works from 51XO’s ever-expanding library of repertoire: the two concerts will feature works by David Crowell, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Jeremy Allen, Buck McDaniel, and Nico Muhly. Additionally, the ensemble’s bassist Tracy Mortimore will perform Alexandra Gardner’s Mint Conditioner for double bass and electronics.
Adding to the fun, these works will include live projected video art. “We’re using the apps Thicket and Variant, which were both developed by Joshue Ott of Interval Studios,” Allen said. “The apps allow the user to manipulate shapes and colors in real time, so it can be done in response to the music that is being performed. They are visually beautiful and have a lot of potential to interact with the richness of the music we’ll be playing.
Allen said the highlight of the program will be Michael Bratt’s updated Atari Punk. “Michael has created a video that features footage from old Atari game consoles that will be playing during the performance. It’s like you’re traveling at the speed of light through a circuit board.”
The photo at the bottom was taken at 51XO’s recent performance at the Rising Sun Coffee Roastery.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com April 6, 2016.
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