Cluster #9 w/ Yael&Nikos and Ingólfur Vilhjálmsson at Labor Neunzehn / Sunday, 11.11.2018

Labor Neunzehn in collaboration with Passepartout Duo presents in Berlin the electronics, field recording and video work Empty Spaces, by the composers-performers duo Yael&Nikos, developed on July 2018 in Nicosia Cyprus as a part of the ‘Interfaces’ residency for electronic music. To complete this first November Cluster (a second one will follow on November 25) will be a solo recital with Ingólfur Vilhjálmsson (Ensemble Adapter) for contrabass clarinet and electronics, which shows a selection of works where the use of timbre and dynamics put the contrast between light and dark at the heart of the compositional process. “Cluster” is a music series devoted to sound investigation with a particular focus on contemporary languages, new music and extended techniques. “Cluster” supports the collaborative work and aims to offer an exchange platform for musicians, composers and electronic music performers in Berlin-Treptow. Entrance for this event is free but requires registration. Register here or via email to cluster[at]laborneunzehn[dot]org.

Yael Levy and Nikos Kokolakis are multimedia artists currently located in The Hague (NL). Since 2015 they are working collaboratively in various projects, including Catchpenny Ensemble. In their works they are focusing in multimedia and collective composition, aiming for organic combination of music composition, field recording, visual art, and performance-art.

Ingólfur Vilhjálmsson studied clarinet in Amsterdam with Herman Braune, Harmen de Boer and on bass clarinet with Harry Sparnaay and Eric van Deuren. He has a great preference for the bass clarinet which he performs regularly also as a solo instrument. He received a scholarship as a member of the Ensemble Modern Academy 2006-2007. He has worked with many composers of his generation and given concerts in Germany, Holland, Finland and Iceland, including festivals like MärzMusik (Berlin), Invention (Berlin), Dark Music Days, Frum- (Reykjavík) and De Suite (Amsterdam). Ingólfur has worked with known composers such as Hosokawa and with Lachenmann on his avantgarde landmark piece Dal niente. His playing has been recorded by the WDR, The Icelandic Radio and the Hessische Rundfunk. Ingólfur recorded the CD “Dualism” with percussionist Tobias Guttmann on the ITM Label in 2008.

Ever since they began collaborating in 2015, the musicians of Passepartout Duo have sought to revitalize the forms and practice of contemporary music through immersive events, compelling music videos, and interdisciplinary projects that emphasize blurring cultural and aesthetic borders.Striving to be catalysts for the global mobility of art and artists, Nicoletta Favari (piano) & Chris Salvito (percussion) have taken the works of emerging and established composers all over the world. They complement the existing and commissioned repertoire with their own original compositions often taking inspiration from their travels. Creating compelling films that document their interpretations and compositions, they seek to showcase contemporary classical music in accessible formats through online videos.While they are proudly self-sufficient in their management, recording, filming, and touring activities, the duo is also always eager to create collaborations across disciplines.Their enthusiastic globetrotting has been made possible with the support of countless artist residencies that have provided them access to platforms in rural and urban locations around the world. The Duo has also presented their work at a variety of music festivals including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK), the Havana Contemporary Music Festival (CU), the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (US), the Dark Music Days Festival (IS), and the Summartónar Festival (FO).

This concert is kindly supported by Dezentrale Kulturarbeit Berlin-Treptow.