We dream of escaping from the city into the bush.
But what we encounter there might change
us in ways we don't expect...
...and can't explain!
DUET for ONE
An hour of stunning music and cinematics exploring
the other-worldly and unexplainable of visiting the natural landscape.
Created by composer/director Damian Barbeler with piano virtuoso Sonya Lifschitz and media artist Tim Gruchy. Duet for One pairs spectacular projections of imagery from the Australian landscape with Barbeler's highly colouristic and inventive music. The work is a unique display of Lifschitz's virtuosity and famous expressive capacity, including the time-and-space-bending device of her performing live in duet with herself in the film.
Duet for One explores our desire to travel into, and connect with the natural landscape. We yearn to "go bush" but what do we expect to find? It might be beautiful and inspiring as we hope, but could equally be mysterious and confronting beyond our rational understanding or control.
"A poetic journey in sound and light. Sonya is astonishing both as a musician but also as a character: the solitary figure yearning to connect and integrate with the land."
Tim Jetis
Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Cabinet of Wonders
"A major contribution to contemporary Australian concert theatre — visually breathtaking, sonically haunting, and poetically charged. Lifschitz anchors the work with virtuosity, theatrical poise, emotional power, and a presence that perfectly integrates the live, the projected and imaginary. Duet for One is one of the most original and arresting works I have encountered on an Australian stage in recent years."
Eugene Ughetti
Artistic Director
Canberra International Music Festival
Selected movements...
Overture
Bombo Headland
Invisible Flowers
Trailer
Nellie's Glen
Mount Delegate
About the artists...
Sonya Lifschitz
Piano / Theatre
Damian Barbeler
Music / Visuals / Director
Sonya is a pianist working across many contexts, with repertoire spanning from 15th century Faenza Codex to works written for her today. She is known for her fiercely imaginative, daring collaborations across film, animation, spoken word, visual and performance art. Described as “a life force of extraordinary density and capacity”, Sonya’s artistry combines bold adventurousness with unparalleled musicianship.
Damian Barbeler is an award-winning composer and multimedia artist recognised for his inventive nature-inspired creations. His visually-influenced style, derived from the practice of composing in situ during field trips, brings a raw and unvarnished honesty to the colours and textures of the Australian bush: from oppressive harshness to intoxicating beauty and everything in between.
Barbeler’s music regularly incorporates extra-musical elements, including visuals, sculpture, theatre, and/or interactive electronics, created either by himself or in collaboration with other artists.
Tim Gruchy
Visuals / Software
Tim’s extensive career spans the exploration and composition of immersive and interactive multimedia through installation, music and performance, whilst redefining its role and challenging the delineations between cultural sectors. He has exhibited multimedia works, photography, video, music and performance since the early 1980s as well as his larger expressions in the public art arenas. His works are held in private, corporate and museum collections.
Technical rider
Production elements/personel to be supplied by the presenter/venue as follows:
- 1 x concert piano (various sizes possible)
- Theatre lighting suitable for a range of simple static states
- Amplification and sound desk (associated cables)
- Projector (10k lumen preferred)
- Projector screen (large 16:9 format minimum e.g. 200-inch: 4.42m x 2.52m)
- Piano sconce light (or other solution)
- 1 x Sound Operator
- 1 x Lighting Operator
- 6 x potted ferns (for stage dressing, small - medium: various styles)
Production elements/personel we will supply as follows:
- 1 x performer
- 1 x show media laptop operator
- 1 x show media laptop
- Portable Klavier hand made keyboard
- 2 x c414 mics and mounting for Klavier
- cloth (for laying under piano)
- other miscellaneous props
Bump in and Bump out:
Half day bump in. Klavier will require 45 mins for tuning (is much like a harpsichord in this respect). The performer will require a minimum 1hr warm up. Bump out is 45 mins.
Stage Plot
Handmade Klavier dimensions and transport
The handmade “Klavier” is lightweight and portable and can be easily carried by 2 x people. The legs are detachable. It requires some tuning when finally placed
For Australian performances is can be transported by us or freighted.
For overseas performances it can be freighted and has its own custom shipping box which is just slightly larger than the dimensions listed below. Shipping costs will vary.
L: 1960mm
H: 900mm
W: 660mm
Contact
Credits
Created by Damian Barbeler, with Sonya LIfschitz and Tim Gruchy.
Music, Videography and Direction: Damian Barbeler
Piano and Movement: Sonya Lifschitz
Videography, Software and Editing: Tim Gruchy
Lighting: Oscar De Gruchy
Assistant Location Videography: Oscar De Gruchy
Assistant Location Sound: Emily Winton
Concert Videography: Mic Gruchy and Felix Gruchy
Audio and Sound Design; Damian Barbeler
Video Editing and Colour Grading: Damian Barbeler