From cutting-edge opera to contemporary classical, Factory International presents a season of world class classical music at its home Aviva Studios in Manchester this summer.
Factory International presents The Hallé’s debut at Aviva Studios, with Anna Meredith’s atmospheric composition ANNO – recontextualisation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which takes the audience through a whole calendar year in just one hour of continuous music.
An intensely immersive production, ANNO elegantly fusing fragments of Vivaldi with Anna Meredith’s own characteristic electronic music, lit only by projections of animated visuals provided by the composer’s sister, Eleanor Meredith (2 May).
Anna Meredith said: “I am thrilled to bring ANNO to Manchester audiences and so excited to be working with the Hallé’s talented musicians and its leader, Robert Ruisi. It’s so brilliant to present this piece in its original immersive context in the fantastic Aviva Studios space and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”
The first in a series of new productions together, English National Opera (ENO) and Factory International present the UK premiere of Du Yun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning contemporary opera Angel’s Bone – a major new production at Aviva Studios, directed by the visionary theatre maker Kip Williams. In collaboration with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Angel’s Bone is a powerful allegory exploring themes of exploitation, power, and the human cost of survival (12-16 May).
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Aviva Studios in May with the primal force of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in a brand new production of powered by the immersive d&b Soundscape audio system and captivating lighting design at Aviva Studio. Audiences can choose how they want to experience the sound of the orchestra for Stravinsky’s masterpiece – as part of a standing arena, or sat in the upper tier of the Hall (22 May).
The award-winning experimental ensemble Manchester Collective will bring to life the work of three titans in experimental music at Aviva Studios in June with Patterns in Repeat. The evening includes the premiere of a new piece by saxophonist and composer Cassie Kinoshi for piano and string quartet.
Improvisation, human connection and Black culture are at the heart of her practice, this mix of influences flows through her brand-new piece for mixed ensemble. Best known for her vocal acrobatics and influencing the likes of Björk, Meredith Monk’s work stretches into choreography, filmmaking and theatre. In this concert the Collective perform a rare treasure from her, the flickering instrumental piece Backlight.
Often taking meditative singing as her starting point, Cassandra Miller taps into music that lies deep within us. Her ‘Perfect Offering’ was penned during a time of illness, and explores the passage of time while our body remains inert. (30 June).
Also this summer, Factory International goes beyond the walls of Aviva Studios with its West End premiere. Following its world premiere at Manchester International Festival in 2019, Tao of Glass by composer Philip Glass and performer-director Phelim McDermott of renowned theatre company Improbable, will run @sohoplace theatre from July. Part-concert, part-performance, the production marries ten meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom with ten brand pieces of music and an ensemble of musicians with puppeteers (25 July – 12 September).
John McGrath, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Factory International said: “Tao of Glass was a massive hit when it premiered at Manchester International Festival in 2019, and we’re really proud to have produced it and taken it around the world with Improbable. We’ve always wanted the show to be seen in London, and we are thrilled that it will be opening in the West End @sohoplace. Philip and Phelim are artists we are so proud to work with, and this is one of their most extraordinary creations.”
Factory International will also host three exhilarating concerts blending live music and cinema, beginning with NARUTO Symphonic Experience. The cinematic anime concert features a montage of iconic scenes from over 220 episodes, synchronized with a live orchestra performing Toshio Masuda’s original score (29 May).
In June, audiences can see through the eyes of an astronaut in the epic concert and visual experience Space Station Earth, by composer Ilan Eshkeri. Eshkeri’s album is performed live on synthesisers with an orchestra and choir, presented alongside a film created from footage captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station and imagery filmed at European Space Agency locations (6 June).
Aviva Studios will also host a landmark live concert celebrating two decades of BAFTA-nominated and award-winning games music. Experience the full force of the BBC Philharmonic with the London Voices choir for BAFTA Games in Concert – conducted by Adrian Ronda Sampayo and synchronised live with dynamic visuals, gameplay and imagery on screen (7 June).
