Katharina Gross plays Cellomondo

Ten years ago, interdisciplinary artist and cellist Katharina Gross started the Cellomondo project. The ambition is as great as it is simple: to realize compositions for the cello by at least two composers from every country in the world. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, Katharina Gross will play a selection from all the albums created so far on Friday evening, April 4. Her brand new fourth Cellomondo album Inside will also be presented. The concert will take place at the Pakhûs SOLO podium in Stiens.

Cellomondo asks (young) composers from different countries of the world to write for the cello solo or for cello and electronics. The composers create works that reflect both the richness of their individual origins and the expressive power of the cello instrument.

Founder Katharina Gross says: 'In this project I share my fascination for the diversity of musical individuality. It is exciting to move through a multitude of sound worlds, to learn the native language of many composers and to tell their story to the audience.' With compositions from every country as a goal, the ambition is great. 'If I succeed in this, 388 or more new pieces will have been realized.'

For example, the programme includes the work Rarámuri by Erika Vega. The Tarahumara (themselves called ‘Rarámuri’) are a group of indigenous peoples in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, famous for their long-distance running. Rarámuri means “those who run fast”. The perspective of the piece is a non-stop story of endurance running. A continuous pulse characterizes the entire piece, exploring all the possibilities that a simple attack can offer. Through contrast in timbre, textures and bowing techniques, multiple layers are created that play with the perspective of the viewer.

Composer Dugal McKinnon represents New Zealand in his piece Fossil Poetry, which focuses on the chemistry between music and language. Jakhongir Shukur from Uzbekistan incorporates Maqom, traditional Uzbek music, into the piece Aks Sado, which means ‘reflection of the voice’. His music is coloured by specific scales and ornaments. Argentinian composer Cecilia Arditto explores the magical world of flageolets in Inside.

During the Suite for cello solo by Australian-Dutch composer Kate Moore, all facets of human emotion are expressed. Korean Kunsu Shim pushes the boundaries of perception in his work 12 Things. The composition surprises and caresses with countless sounds, noise and silence. Gerhard Stäbler bases his Capricci for cello solo on the concepts of freedom and humanism.

The Cellomondo project began in a collaboration with Korean composer Seung-Won Oh and the piece Persistent Memory. Specially for the tenth anniversary, Seung-Won Oh wrote another work for Katharina Gross: Zephyr. This wind deity from Greek mythology embodies the west wind and was worshipped as a harbinger of spring.

The Austrian Katharina Gross, who lives in Amsterdam, realises projects around new compositions for cello and electronics, performance, music theatre and visual arts.
Katharina's work merges research into phenomena from psychology and philosophy with literature and music. In an exciting interplay between acoustic, optical and spatial impulses, she plays with the audience's sense of perspective.
Katharina has performed all over the world. This month she is artist in residence at the Cello Festival Les Ateliers du Violoncelle in Paris and Lyon. This season Katharina has been invited as artist in residence by the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Strasbourg. She is creating a new work for the Aubette 1928 in Strasbourg, a space consisting of three large halls designed by Theo van Doesburg, Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp. Her work will be presented in 2028, together with three other works of art, as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Aubette 1928. See also www.katharinagross.at.

This concert has no intermission. Includes coffee/tea beforehand and a drink afterwards.