SALT 2011

This daylong festival of contemporary music and dance consisted of a series of performances of exiting new music and dance from Canada and around the world at Open Space in Victoria, BC Canada. Soloists Kris Covlin, Mark McGregor and Tzenka Dianova presented works by Avram, Biró, Newsome and Nicolescu. One concert was dedicated to composer Elliott Carter featuring Joanna Hood, Ajtony Csaba, Dániel Péter Biró and the Lafayette Quartet. 20th Century classics Pierrot Lunaire by Schoenberg and Gran Torso by Helmut Lachenmann were also on the menu, played by students of the University of Victoria School of Music. A final concert featured Canadian premieres of works by Czernowin, Grisey and Donatoni in coordination with the Suddenly Dance Theater. Throughout the daylong festival audience members had the chance to talk with the composers and musicians about the concerts in a casual setting. Food and drink, specially designed in accordance with the music, was provided by Victoria Spirits.

Concert 1 @ 11:30 AM
The Music of Elliott Carter
Joanna Hood, Ajtony Csaba, Dániel Péter Biró and the Lafayette Quartet perform works of this contemporary American master.

Concert 2 @ 3:00 p.m.
New Virtuosity
Tzenka Dianova, Kris Covlin, Mark McGregor, Hannah Burton, Rob Phillips and Kevin Brady play works of Biró, Newsome, Maxwell (Canadian Premieres), Berio, Xenakis, Avram and Nicolescu

Concert 3 @ 5:00 PM
Response 1
Featuring Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire and a response-piece by German composer Annette Brosin Übersetzungen performed by Heather Harker, Crystal Yang, Liam Hockley, Nathan Friedman, Darren Miller, Emilt Burton, Brooke Wilken and Monika Zaborowski

Concert 4 @ 6:30 PM
Response 2
Featuring Lachenmann’s famous string quartet Gran Torso and a response-piece by Canadian Composer Darren Miller for felipe de almeida ribeiro performed by students from the University of Victoria School of Music
Concert 5 – 8:00 PM
Dancing in the Sound of Light

Ground-breaking works by Donatoni, Grisey and Czernowin performed by the Tsilumos Ensemble and special guests from the Suddenly Dance Theatre, and Anne Grimm, Tzenka Dianova, Tori Linsey, Sheila Macmillan, Kris Covlin, Mark McGregor, Lou Ranger, Rebecca Hissen, Joanna Hood, Dániel Péter Biró, Nathan Jacklin, cond. Ajtony Csaba