Voice ++ Festival 2013 at Open Space, February 2-10

Just when I think I have a grasp on Victoria’s cultural climate, I’m introduced to a new pocket of practice. Now in its 8^th year Open Space’s Voice ++ Festival features yodelling, Mongolian throat singing, vocalizations with humpback whales and performance poetry on the programme February 8-10^th, 2013.  (Check below for links to past festivals).  This is definitely on the “expanding cultural horizons” list for this year!

Voice++ 2013 is an exploration of the possibilities of the human voice showcasing three artists (Christian Zehner, Helen Pridmore, Ray Hsu) with three different approaches to the instrument we all use every day.

Vocal Workshop with Christian Zehnder
Thursday, February 7, 7:00 p.m.

Christian Zehnder Concert
Friday, February 8,8:00 p.m.

Switzerland’s Christian Zehnder’s practice combines yodelling and Mongolian throat singing techniques to create a unique hybrid form of art song, be it with his own projects (Stimmhorn, kraah, melting, etc.) or with various international groups like Huun Huur Tu, Mercan Dede, the Casal Quartet, Don Li, the prestigious Latvian Radio Choir from Riga, or as a soloist in the Amazon contemporary opera at the Munich Biennale; there is always a touch of Swiss mountain air in his singing. Archaic, urban, and spherical sounds with a critical distant view of the faraway Alpine Ridge.

Helen Pridmore Concert
Saturday, February 9, 8:00 p.m.

Coming to us all the way from the other coast (New Brunswickto be exact), Helen Pridmore will treat our ears to a solo recital of contemporary music written for voice. In concert she has performed works ranging from Handel’s Messiah to Michael Finnissy’s Mr. Punch (most recently with Victoria’s Aventa Ensemble). Known for her fabulous and inspiring performances, she will show the possibility of the unaccompanied voice. The concert program will include selections from her recent CD release, including the title track, Martin Arnold’s Janet. Also on the program will be Emily Doolittle’s Social Sounds From Whales at Night, which leaves you wondering where the recordings of humpback whales end and her vocalizations begin.

Ray Hsu Reading/Performance

Sunday, February 10,7:30 p.m. Sponsored by theCanadaCouncil for the Arts and theUniversityofVictoria

One part poet, one part performance artist, Ray Hsu will round out our experience of the human voice for Voice++ 2013. Ray Hsu lectures widely on creativity and is cofounder of Art Song Lab, an interdisciplinary platform that creates fusions across poetry, music, and performance. He is author of two award-winning books, and his works have been set to music and adapted for film. His observations of current trends and sense of humour are clearly illustrated by the video of him “unboxing” a copy of his book in the same manner that many film and post to YouTube the opening of recent consumer technologies. thewayofray.com

Ray Hsu will also at the Universityof Victoriafor a free performance event Tuesday February 12^th,9:30 am in the foyer of theFineArtsBuilding.

Come and hear that amazing instrument that is stuck in our throats!

Voice++ 2013

Dates: February 7th till 10th, 2013
Place: Open Space 510 Fort Street
Events: 1 Workshop, 2 Concerts, and 1 Reading/Performance
Admission: Festival Pass $20 (available at the door or in advance at http://voice2013.brownpapertickets.com)
Individual Tickets at the door: Workshop $10, Concerts $15/$10, Reading/Performance no tickets required.  All door sales are cash only. www.openspace.ca

I’ve included links to past Voice ++ Festivals for your perusal.

2005 http://www.openspace.ca/node/298
2006 http://www.openspace.ca/node/318
2007 http://www.openspace.ca/node/337
2008  http://www.openspace.ca/node/380
2009  http://www.openspace.ca/node/806
2010 http://www.openspace.ca/node/970
2011 http://www.openspace.ca/node/1659

I have been offered complimentary tickets to attend Open Space’s Voice ++ 2013. I was not asked to write a preview.  As always, I retain editorial control over all the content on my blog.