Pianist and composer Eric Wubbels

On Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 pm, the Austrian Cultural Forum New York presents pianist Eric Wubbels performing selections from Peter Ablinger's ground-breaking "Voices and Piano" series . The highlight of the evening is the world premiere performance of the newest addition to the series, a work using the voice of American performance artist Diamanda Galás.

 

"Voices and Piano" is an extensive cycle of pieces for recorded voice - usually a well-known celebrity - and piano. Begun in 1998, Ablinger's cycle continues to be a work in progress and will ultimately include about 80 pieces/voices (around four hours of music). The voices are taken from speeches, interviews or readings, and rather than an accompaniment, the piano part serves as a commentary on the spoken text.

 

Peter Ablinger will be in attendance for the concert and will handle the electronics at the performance. Selections will include the voices of Agnes Martin, Mila Haugová, Ezra Pound, Nina Simone, Setsuko Hara, Hanna Schygulla, Cecil Taylor, Roman Opalka, and the world premiere of Diamanda Galás .

 

In addition to Mr. Ablinger's appearance at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York, his visit to the U.S. also includes a week-long residency at the Goethe Institut Chicago with the Wet Ink Ensemble, and an Alexei Ratmansky choreographed world premiere with the New York City Ballet .

 

Admission is free, and reservations (online at ACFNY.org ) are required. Austrian Cultural Forum New York is located at 11 East 52nd Street, New York, NY.

 

The Austrian Cultural Forum New York's Spring 2020 concert season also includes the Argento Chamber Ensemble performing works by Arnold Schoenberg and a world premiere by Erin Gee, Klezmer music by Roman Grinberg and Sasha Danilov on March 10, and the piano duo of Hafez Babashahi and Mira Gill performing Austrian works from Schubert to Johannes Maria Staud on March 26. See details below.

Peter Ablinger was born in Schwanenstadt, Austria in 1959. He began studying graphic arts but enthused by free jazz changed his focus to composition, studying with Gösta Neuwirth and Roman Haubenstock-Ramati in Graz and Vienna. Since 1982 he has lived in Berlin, where he has created and arranged numerous festivals and concerts. He is the founder of Ensemble Zwischentöne, and has been guest conductor of Klangforum Wien, United Berlin and the InselMusik Ensemble. In 2012 Ablinger was awarded membership in the Academy of Arts Berlin, and from 2012 to 2017 he was research professor at the University of Huddersfield. 

Eric Wubbels is an award-winning composer and pianist, and is Co-Director of the Wet Ink Ensemble. His music has been performed throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and the U.S., by groups including Mivos Quartet, yarn|wire, Splinter Reeds, and Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, and has been featured on festivals including Huddersfield Festival, Chicago Symphony MusicNOW, New York Philharmonic CONTACT, MATA Festival, and Zurich Tage für Neue Musik.

 

As a pianist, he has given U.S. and world premieres of works by major figures including Peter Ablinger, Richard Barrett, Beat Furrer, George Lewis, and Mathias Spahlinger. He has recorded for Carrier Records, hatART, Intakt, New Focus, Spektral (Vienna), quiet design, and Albany Records, among others, and has held teaching positions at Amherst College and Oberlin Conservatory.

 

11 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022

 

Ticket reservations will be available beginning December 18 at:

Nicolas Hodges performs selections of "Voices and Piano"

January 28, 2020|Peter Ablinger's "Voices and Piano"

February 5|Argento Chamber Ensemble - "Double Take"

March 10 | Roman Grinberg & Sasha Danilov - Klezmer

March 26 | Hafez Babashahi & Mira Gill - 4 Hand Piano

With its architectural landmark building in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the  Austrian Cultural Forum New York  is the cultural embassy of Austria in the United States. It hosts more than 100 free events annually and showcases Austrian contemporary art, music, literature, and academic thought in New York.

 

The Austrian Cultural Forum New York is located at 11 East 52nd Street (between Fifth and Madison Avenue). Admission to events is free, and reservations, via  www.acfny.org  or (212) 319 5300, are required.

Special thanks to the Goethe Institut Chicago for their support as a presenting partner for Mr. Ablinger.