MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

"THE DIVINE PUNISHMENT" Virtuosity, emotional engagement, deeply felt expression and convincing electronic manipulation - these are attributes with which the international press has described the musician, composer and actress Diamanda Galas. Peter Frank from "Flash Art" lists Diamanda Galas among the Meta-Musicans, together with avantgarde-figures as glittering as Laurie Anderson and Brian Eno, for they are the ones who manage to stage something like the "total overall Work Of Art". And so rock-fans as well as avantgarde music-lovers rank among her admirers. For ARS ELECTRONICA Diamanda Galas will realize the commission opera "MASOUE OF THE RED DEATH" (matching E. A. Poe's story title), an electro-acoustical visitation mass. Starting from the Old Testament, the artist will deal with all kinds of plagues and misfortunes that regulary visit mankind.

Both real-time and playback voices as well as the keyboard instruments are sung and played by Diamanda Galas herself. The Linz Shipyards will render an ambiente matching the music. ARS ELECTRONICA's commission is furthermore realized with the help of the American "National Endowment For The Arts (Opera / New Music Theatre Programm)", of "The Kitchen" (New York City) and of "Intravenal Sound Operations".

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