- Program Notes
- The Urban Tale of a Hippo (2022) site-specific auditory exploration for ensemble, electronics, hippos, drones, haze, lights, space and movement. Duration ~50′ minutes
“The Urban Tale of a Hippo” is a visionary musical performance that explores the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment. The performance is set in a haze-filled factory, which creates a disorienting and atmospheric space. The audience is invited to navigate the haze, using their senses to explore the soundscape and experience the transformation of the world around them. The music is a blend of live instruments and electronics, creating a rich and textured soundscape. The instruments are often deconstructed and manipulated, creating unexpected and evocative sounds. The electronics are used to create a sense of space and movement, immersing the audience in the performance. The movement is also integral to the performance. The performers move through the fog, creating a sense of mystery and wonder. The movement is often abstract, reflecting the fluid and ever-changing nature of the world. The performance culminates in the appearance of a giant hippo. The hippo is a symbol of consciousness and awareness, and its presence in the performance is a reminder of the importance of ecological stewardship. The Urban Tale of a Hippo is a powerful and moving performance that challenges audiences to think about their relationship to the natural world. In the section Demonic Animal that comes before the last exodus the titular hippo embodies the "demonic animal," a concept in Deleuze and Guattari's work that represents non- hierarchical, fluid identities beyond fixed forms. Just as the hippo emerges from the mist, ever- shifting and multifaceted, so too do the performers and sounds morph through the sonic landscape, dissolving boundaries between human and animal, instrument and environment, machine and consciousness. The performance celebrates multiplicity, rejecting singular narratives and embracing the chaotic tapestry of existence. The audience navigates the foggy space, individually constructing their own meaning from the complexity of sounds and movements, much like how Deleuze and Guattari encourage readers to engage with their texts in a non-linear, open-ended fashion. The fusion of instruments and electronics, the blurring of stage and audience space, and the emphasis on sonic narrative all challenge traditional hierarchies. This reflects Deleuze and Guattari's critique of power structures and their vision for a more decentralized, rhizomatic world, where connections and flows take precedence over fixed forms and predetermined paths. In essence, "The Urban Tale of a Hippo" isn't just a concert, a music theater or a site specific auditory exploration, it's a philosophical journey through sound, light, space and movement, inviting audiences to embrace the complexity of our interconnected world, where humans and animals, nature and technology, past and future weave together in a dynamic, ever-evolving dance.
- Recording Notes
- Panayiotis Kokoras: music
Andrius Katinas: Dramaturgy
Nanni Vapaavuori Lights
Morta Nakaite: Costumes
OPEROMANIJA: Producer
- Performer Credits
- Ensemble Synaesthesis: Simas Tankevicius, Monika Kiknadze, Arnas Kmieliauskas, Vytenis Gurstis, Artūras Kažimėkas, Arminas Bižys, Marta Finkelštein
- Publisher
- Panayiotis Kokoras