back to: documentations

OPERA/WORKS, Cityopera Graz in 7 Acts


2nd Act: THE ORCHESTRA
for CD and orchestra
2.2.2.2.,4.2.2.,Harp,Piano,10.10.8.8.6, 69 minutes



Several of the "phonographs" of the 1st act play a leading role in the 2nd act (as well as the 7th, see below), The Orchestra, here performed by the recreation Orchestra Graz in the Helmut List Hall- a work itself in ten tableaux and eleven intermezzi.
          catchwords by Peter Ablinger for
          2nd Act (the Orchestra):

          the orchestra as Trojan Horse:
          via phonography, procuring the city-recordings the highest possible podium;
          orchestra and phonography;
          like hand-colored photos;
          givenness and handwriting;
          the opposition of contingency and culture;
          the opposition of continuum (noise, life) and grid (music, perception);
          concert situation, collective hearing

As elementary building blocks for the entire compositional architecture, certain sequences from the 1st act, the city-sound archive (as topoi of urban landscapes), become the stereophonic surroundings of the orchestra, which in sound-images follow this particular musical/topographical surveying of the city.

A space-sound-composition in 10 tableaus and 11 intermezzi, a concert for 60 instrumentalists, and electronics - a 'phonography' with the recreation Orchestra Graz under the musical direction of Sian Edwards. Text: Wolfgang Hofer, translated by Bill Dietz


detail from the score: THE ORCHESTRA, Intermezzo 8, Rainpiece
pdf-file, 243KB

> listen: THE ORCHESTRA, Intermezzo 4, "Backyard (for Alvin Lucier)"

> listen: THE ORCHESTRA, Tableau V, "Plabutsch (Tunnel 2)"

> listen: THE ORCHESTRA, Tableau II, "Endless-Cassette"

> listen: THE ORCHESTRA, Tableau VIII, "A + O"

> listen: THE ORCHESTRA, Intermezzo 11, "Record"



THE ORCHESTRA in the Helmut List-Hall, Graz,
with the recreation orchester and Sian Edwards (cond.);
Photos: Elvira Klamminger, Drawings: Peter Ablinger



see also: PHONOREALISM, texts and notes, engl. and german


LP-Record



the 7 Acts of the Cityopera - go to:
1st Act: THE SINGING
2nd Act: THE ORCHESTRA
3rd Act: THE LIBRETTO
4th Act: THE PLOT
5th Act: THE SET
6th Act: THE SEATING
7th Act: THE AUDIENCE

back to: documentations

impressum \ this page was created by Aljoscha Hofmann \  last edited 04.01.2006