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Ensemble Dal Niente and Marino Formenti Present: The Party
Friday, February 15, 2013, 8:00 – 11:00 pm
Listen to the Program
Pianist, conductor, and curator Marino Formenti has distinguished himself as one of the most compelling and original interpreters of his generation, particularly for his performances of contemporary music and for developing unusual and experimental concert formats. With Ensemble Dal Niente, one of Chicago’s premier contemporary music ensembles, he produced The Party, a communal experience that casts away some of the concert hall’s conventions in order to bring listeners together in a brand new way.
During The Party, people can sit where and how they want; they can stand, lie down, choose what to listen to at any particular moment, relax, move, talk, drink, eat… and they can listen to music together. This experience will be the antithesis of listening to music through earbuds plugged into your head as you sit alone staring at a computer screen. Forget social media – this is social listening, a global event like walking through a gallery and finding Mark Rothko, Clyfford Still, and Cy Twombly all in the same room. The Party brings together stylistically diverse and uniquely brilliant composers’ music for you to experience, examine and share in one unforgettable evening.
The evening-length event featured culinary creations by Chicago-based food artist Nick Jirasek, owner of Guerilla Smiles, whose food was inspired by the musical program, as well as drinks by Goose Island Beer Company and Koval Distillery of Chicago.
The Party took place on May 12, 2012
Marino Formenti: Curator, Conductor and Artistic Director
Molly Feingold: Production Director
Ryan Muncy: Executive Director, Ensemble Dal Niente
J. Austin Wulliman: Program Director, Ensemble Dal Niente
Sandra Wu: Special Events Coordinator
Nicholas Jirasek: Food Artist, Guerilla Smiles
Zak Malsich: Lighting Design
Daniel Arkfeld: Stage Manager
David Polk: Broadcast Producer and Host
Broadcast program (original program lasted 6 hours, including frequent breaks):
Mauricio Kagel (1931-2008): Osten from Die Stücke der Windrose (1989) for clarinet, piano, harmonium, two violins, viola, cello, bass, and percussion
Pablo Chin (b.1982): After Pehaujo (2010) for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, and percussion
Timothy McCormack (b.1986): Apparatus (2008) for bass clarinet, cello, and piano
Alex Mincek (b.1975): Pendulum VII (2010) for saxophone, two flutes, piano, percussion, violin, viola, and cello
Bernhard Lang (b. 1957): SCHRIFT/BILD/SCHRIFT (1998) for amplified octet
Marcos Balter (b.1973): Vision Mantra (2009) for violin, viola, cello
Salvatore Sciarrino (b.1947): Muro d’orrizonte (1997) for alto flute, English horn, and bass clarinet
Bernhard Gander (b.1969): Peter Parker (2008) for piano
Franco Donatoni (1927-2000): HOT (1989) for saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion, double bass, and piano
Giacinto Scelsi (1905-1988): Duo for Violin and Cello (1965)
Galina Ustwolskaja (1919-2006): Sonata No. 6 (1988) for piano
Morton Feldman (1926-1987): Why Patterns (1978) for flute, glockenspiel, and piano
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