Today power structures are being called into question everywhere. The position of the conductor ‘maestro’ is no exception. In ‘HANDS ON (hands off)’ the conductor appears to have everything under control, but nothing could be further from the truth. He conducts an imaginary shadow orchestra with Wii controllers, linked with acoustic sensors. As a puppet he breaks through his tight straightjacket. Even simply striking a match leads to an unexpected chain of acoustic events. To cap it all, Nadar creates a new work from the much-lauded Irish composer Jennifer Walshe!
Serge Verstockt (1957): DRIE, part I, for 2 soloists, local musicians surrounding the audience, and conductor (2007)
Alexander Schubert (1979): Point Ones, for small ensemble and augmented conductor (2012)
Alexander Khubeev (1986), Ghost of Dystopia, for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello, guitar, conductor, and acoustic sensors (2014, rev. 2019)
Jennifer Walshe (1974), splendor_solis.wav [Commission Piece] for ensemble, conductor, live video and electronics (2021-22)
splendor_solis.wav was commissioned by DE SINGEL and Nadar Ensemble and supported by Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung