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short description

Solo Vocal Performance / Pseudo Scientific Entertainment

In his one man performance "Rede / Speech", Blixa Bargeld explores the boundaries of language and music. The audience bears witness to the metamorphosis of sentences, words and syllables into acoustic architecture, resounding spheres and cacophonous monstrosities.

The equipment used is reduced to a minimum: microphones, effect equipment and foot pedals, monitor boxes and two loud speakers, and a mixing panel with Boris Wilsdorf at the controls opposite the stage. That's all that Blixa Bargeld needs in order to produce a complex sound texture from a simple sentence or mere word with the possibilities of his voice alone.

At the beginning the technical apparatus is briefly  explained and demonstrated; the improvisation process then becomes transparent within its definite structure. There appear to be no secrets. The intelligent entertainment in which Blixa Bargeld's listeners become entangled however, develops amazing dynamism and intensity. A peek into the laboratory of a vocal alchemist.

appearences up to now:

November 2005 Linz, Posthof; Lübeck, Stadttheater; Avanto Festival Helsinki
August 2004 Antwerpen, ABC 2004
June 2004 Genua, Festival internazionale di poesia
December 2003 Münster, Winterspiele
October 2003 Milano, Treatro dell Arte
April 2003 tour: Zagreb, Music Biennale; Athen, Gagarin; Catania, Zo; Turin, Musica 90; Genf, Lusine; Verona, Interzone festival
January/February/March/May "Akustische Abendunterhaltung" based on Rede/Speech in cooperation with the Deutsches Theater - Gastspiel im Haus
Rede/Speech XXXVI/01 Coimbra, Teatro Gil Vincente
Rede/Speech XXXV/01 Porto, Hard Club
Rede/Speech XXXIV/01 Paris, Fondation Cartier
Rede/Speech XXXIII/00 Bologna, Link
Rede/Speech XXXII/00 Venedig, Teatro Fondamente
Rede/Speech XXXI/00 Dortmund, LesArt Festival
Rede/Speech XXX/00 Erlangen, Hörkunstfestival
Rede/Speech XXIX/00 Krakau, AudioArt/Hügel Festival
Rede/Speech XXVIII/00 Hildesheim, Kulturfabrik Lösche
Rede/Speech XXVII/00 Innsbruck, Voices Festival
Rede/Speech XXVI/00 Prag
Rede/Speech XXV. / 00 Hörspieltage SWR, Freiburg
Rede/Speech XXIV. / 00 Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut, Heidelberg
Rede/Speech XXIII. / 99 Jazzfestival Saalfelden
Rede/Speech XXII. / 99, Wortkom, Komed Saal, Köln
Rede/Speech XXI. / 99, Södra Teatern, Stockholm
Rede/Speech XX. / 99, CELL, t'Paard, Den Haag
Rede/Speech XIX. / 99, Rosebud Red Festival, Schloßpark Belvedere, Weimar
Rede/Speech XVIII. / 99, art is ego, Erfurt
Rede/Speech XVII. / 99, Meltdown Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall. London
Rede/Speech XVI. / 99, de Melkweg, Amsterdam
Rede/Speech XV. / 99, Turm, Halle/Saale
Rede/Speech XIV. / 99, Muffathalle, München
Rede/Speech XIII. / 98, Moritzbastei, Leipzig
Rede/Speech XII. / 98, Theater Neumarkt, Zürich
Rede/Speech XI. / 98, Theater Neumarkt, Zürich
Rede/Speech X. / 98, Komed, Köln
Rede/Speech IX. / 98, Frankfurter Hof, Mainz
Rede/Speech VIII. / 98, deNachten Festival, Antwerpen
Rede/Speech VII./ 98, LOT Theater, Braunschweig
Rede/Speech VI. / 97, Göttinger Literaturherbst
Rede/Speech V. / 96, Spoken Word Festival Brüssel
Rede/Speech IV. / 95, Experimenta Mainz
Rede/Speech III. / 95, Crossing Border Festival Den Haag

Review by Anna Clare McDuff