Natalia Pschenitschnikova
A.E.I.O.U. (2024)
Conceptual cantata for seven voices a cappella
Performance
Natalia Pschenitschnikova, A.E.I.O.U. (2024), conceptual cantata for seven voices a cappella, photo: steirischer herbst / Johanna Lamprecht
Dates
19.9.2024
Location
Lesliehof, Graz
Production specifics
Commissioned and produced by steirischer herbst ’24
With the kind support of the German Embassy Vienna and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Vienna
A.E.I.O.U.” is a motto coined by Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor between 1452 and 1493, symbolizing Austria’s rise to power. Though its actual meaning remains unknown, it is often interpreted as “Austriae est imperare orbi universo,” that is, “All the world is subject to Austria.” It is with this grand thought that vowels are still sometimes taught in Austrian primary school.
Composer and experimental musician Natalia Pschenitschnikova departs from this mysterious abbreviation in her new phonetic-political performance for the festival opening. Joined by six other major experimental vocalists, she explores the many mysterious letter sequences of today—political, economic, and otherwise. In solos and choruses, the ensemble presents and dissects these sounds, questioning their relation to power and their own enigmatic authority.
Musik, Libretto, Kostüme: Natalia Pschenitschnikova
Mit: Frauke Aulbert, Anna Clementi, Lorena Izquierdo, Christian Kesten, Alexey Kokhanov, Natalia Pschenitschnikova, Ute Wassermann
Retrospective
Retrospective