The premiere of a new musical performance in Bradford’s City Park will see the audience submerged in a shipping container.
Composer Jez Colborne is the only artist with a learning disability selected by the PRS for Music Foundation – the UK’s leading funder of new music – to create an original piece of music for its New Music Biennial.
Jez has William’s Syndrome – a genetic condition enabling some striking verbal abilities, perfect pitch and an affinity for music. In 2010 Jez started his renowned music performance piece Irresistible, which was performed at Ilkley’s Cow and Calf Rocks.
Inspired by unusual objects and instruments that generate various sounds, Gift will immerse audiences in a wave of new sounds. It is produced in collaboration with Bradford theatre company Mind the Gap.
Jez said: “The piece follows the story of the Trojan Horse – a gift arrives, but is all what it seems? I want the audience to go through a mix of emotions when they hear the piece.
“I was struck with how odd a shipping container is, a big space that could be brutal and beautiful. I want to create a feast of sounds from it that liberates musical qualities from different cultures.
Gift will be premiered on Saturday, June 14, in City Park as part of this year’s Bradford Festival.
Following its Bradford premiere, Gift will tour to London’s Southbank Centre in July, when it will be recorded by BBC Radio 3.
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