Escalier du Chant

The human voice resonated at the centre of this performance, for which Olaf Nicolai has invited composers to write short a-cappella pieces about political events that are meaningful to them.
The result was a twelve-part song cycle that premiered over a period of twelve Sundays. The unannounced performances were staged on the main staircase of the Pinakothek der Moderne. In contrast to conventional concerts, these brief, unexpected performances offered both singers and listeners an extraordinary sound experience. This approach expresses Olaf Nicolai’s expanded working concept which regards the artist, composer, singer and listener as participants of equal importance.
The project Escalier du Chant is part of an ongoing interdisciplinary programme by the Pinakothek der Moderne. Along with its world premiere in Munich, the project includes other performances and a recording for radio and Internet.

Curator: Bernhart Schwenk
Artist: Olaf Nicolai
Composers: Tony Conrad (USA), Georg Friedrich Haas (A), Georg Katzer (PL), Olga Neuwirth (A), Liza Lim, Samir Odeh-Tamimi (JL), Enno Poppe, Rolf Riehm, Elliott Sharp (USA), Mika Vainio (FI), Jennifer Walshe (JE).

Venue and schedule:
Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, 30 January – 18 December 2011. The first performance took place on 30 January 2011.