This performance delves into the world of Greek mythology, showing Scènes Pastorales through the lense of the French Baroque composers whose works are explored. Through this performance, Nymphes et Monstres express and experience what it truly means to be human by looking at the ways in which the legends of Greek mythology, the musicians of the past, and the performers of the present interact on stage. Nymphes et Monstres use movement as a method to deeper explore the expression of emotion, and push the boundaries of a traditional musical performance. They draw on techniques derived from Mime training, and also work with historical treaties to create gesture derived from performers of the past whilst being firmly rooted in the present. Expressivity through gesture is used as tool to bridge the gap with audiences, and draw them into the world full of mythology that we will be exploring.
Nymphes et Monstres is a concert collaboration of four musicians: Kat Carson (soprano, England), Dorota Matejová (traverso, Slovakia), Yotam Haran (cello, Israel) and Punto Bawono (theorbo and lute, Netherlands). Specialized in the performance of French baroque music, all ensemble members play on historical instruments (or copies thereof) and are currently studying (or recently graduated from) early music performance programmes. The sound quality of the ensemble’s historical instruments, which differs significantly from the sound of their modern counterparts, invites the audience to engage with a soundscape that is somewhat softer, very resonant, colorful, and beautiful in its own sense.
