Georg Nussbaumer is a composer, installation artist and creator of theatre and performance projects. His work includes multilayered operatic works, where installations and machines serve both as scenery and sound sources, operated by performers and musicians who follow precise scores – i.e. the 16-hour Wagner-periphrasis ‘Ringlandschaft mit Bierstrom’. Music, its history and impact and not least its generation is – interlaced with mythical matter – starting point of his interrogations on perception and being. Beside exuberant spatio acoustic works he also develops puristic installations like a sounding relief of the Alps made from tuning forks. Realized by professional performers as well as by amateurs and craftspeople his pieces are commissioned and shown at renowned festivals and theatres internationally, often exploring and reinterpreting special sites like swimming halls, bunkers or – with his ‘Invisible Siegfrieds’ – the entire Sunset Boulevard.
FACTS:
1: Music is not a matter of sound.
2: Many musics are abuse of air movement.
3: A thunderstroke of silence would be nice. Only sounds of gravity and weather for a while.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Mostly music, instruments and their bodies. Hidden meanings of words and things. Humor. Watching kids play and adults behave.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
Very late, I think I was 14 when I started to play an instrument. But I got obsessed quickly and simultaneously developed interest for installations and performance.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
I am not a listener anymore, sometimes I go to a concert – if invited.
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
When in Berlin, I am staying in the same flat since more than ten years. And I am wondering how it can be, that there are only 30+ parents with 4 years old kids on the streets. Since ten years!
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Actually, its the place where I live. trees, a fountain, cafés, trams. very busy. And: I live in the only ugly house, so I see only nice buildings from my windows.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
As long as there was sound – I would go on with what I am doing. If there was no sound — I don’t know. Maybe I would use very loud colours.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
That was decades ago. No idea
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Many of the people I like to collaborate with are participating in the upcoming project ‘Nobodaddy is perfect‘. And there are always unplanned new encounters.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Usually the upcoming one.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
I use it and I collaborate with specialists. I am interested in what technology can do, but I am not too interested in how it works.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Yes, a brother — as he is constantly paragliding he never sees/hears what I am doing.
Georg Nussbaumer & Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop will bring their dystopic musical theater ‘Nobodaddy is perfect‘ to Radialsystem on 9th & 10th July 2019!
Photo © Melody Roozimand