Urs Schönebaum's impressive scenography immerses the audience in the performance. Four large platforms, on which the performers move, surround the audience, with the orchestra in the centre. Four scenographic elements, referring to the work of Etel Adnan, surround the performers: The sun and the eclipse face each other, two immense symbolic structures adorned with light, while the star and the horizon, at the other two cardinal points, are represented by a single spotlight for the former and a long luminous line for the latter.
In this ingenious scenography, the spectators are led by Pierre Audi's spatial arrangement to turn their gaze 360 degrees. An immersive installation of 36 loudspeakers, specially designed for the occasion, guides the audience's gaze through sound, using the HOLOPHONIX spatialisation processor.
The variety of algorithms offered by HOLOPHONIX allowed us, together with Norbert Omme r, to fine-tune the sonic challenges posed by the scenography, the spatial arrangement and the vocal complexity of the score. We chose two algorithms for this work: WFS, which allows precise and natural source localisation, and KNN, an intensity-based panning algorithm that offers great flexibility.
comments Clément Vallon.
This adaptation of the poet Etel Adnan's work features seven performers: 'The Witness' (the only solo role sung by Thomas Oliemans) and the female choir ( Camille Allérat, Pauline Sikirdji, Fiona McGown, Camille Merckx, Helena Rasker), as well as 'The Outsider'.
In her libretto, Claudia Pérez Iñesta describes the composition of this choir as a single neutral body with five multidirectional heads [...], permanent metamorphosis, the palette of colours and voices is dizzying for the spectator, like a "spin-dry effect".
The precision of the localisation provided by the WFS algorithm allowed us to work with Norbert Ommer, Ilan Volkov (musical director) and Samir Odeh-Tamimi (composer) on the spatialisation of the choir in accordance with the score. Sometimes precisely localised during more narrative passages, WFS also allowed us to gather the choral voices to create a fusion and make them speak as a single voice, as a unique entity.
The voice of the outsider also received special treatment. This pre-recorded voice in Arabic (that of the composer) is transmitted only through the elevated speakers, like a whisper. The composer and conductor wanted to create an ethereal dimension by applying KNN spatialisation to this sound, accompanied by a slight rocking motion. The numerous parameters offered by HOLOPHONIX allowed us to adjust the diffusion of this voice over the loudspeakers, optimising both the diffusion to maintain good intelligibility and the motion work.
