A philosophical prose for double bass, percussion and voice: based on one of the most emblematic works by Paul Valéry, Monsieur Teste is a show which unites music and voice to bring life to “Mr” Teste, a symbol and metaphor for intelligence, whose only purpose is to discover the laws of the spirit, beginning with the question: “What can a man do?”
Teatro Grassi
With the new artistic direction of Benedetto Sicca, Tramedautore is presented as the International Festival of Dramaturgies. The plural here is important: playwriting, evermore-so nowadays, has proven to be able to penetrate lands and languages both verbal and non-verbal, capable of elaborating thoughts on contemporaneity. Works will be staged from Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden, focusing on the fragility of values in that part of Europe theoretically leading this continent which runs “at two speeds”. There will also be street performances and concerts in the Chiostro following the shows.
Trying to put into music the words of a philosophical work means entering into the very essence of thought with sound. Not all philosophy, however, can be sung as it is acted. With Monsieur Teste, it’s possible! Because the language of Valéry contains a subtle vision which, going beyond “the mute confines of the word”, cannot avoid putting music into question. And this leads us to action.
In the end, it is like seeing and understanding that which lies most hidden within us, “the obscure substance that we, unwittingly, are”, how can one “describe this volatile background without points of reference, which has the most important, but also the most unstable, relationships with thought? Only music is able to do so”.
Therefore, the search for that vibration begins with the sound of the voice, the double bass and the percussion.
At Chiostro Nina Vinchi
7 p.m. - "Una parola al giorno" performance
9.30 p.m. - "Genji Lab | Mother" concert with Cesare Picco, by Yamaha
Duration: one hour
With the new artistic direction of Benedetto Sicca, Tramedautore is presented as the International Festival of Dramaturgies. The plural here is important: playwriting, evermore-so nowadays, has proven to be able to penetrate lands and languages both verbal and non-verbal, capable of elaborating thoughts on contemporaneity. Works will be staged from Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden, focusing on the fragility of values in that part of Europe theoretically leading this continent which runs “at two speeds”. There will also be street performances and concerts in the Chiostro following the shows.
Trying to put into music the words of a philosophical work means entering into the very essence of thought with sound. Not all philosophy, however, can be sung as it is acted. With Monsieur Teste, it’s possible! Because the language of Valéry contains a subtle vision which, going beyond “the mute confines of the word”, cannot avoid putting music into question. And this leads us to action.
In the end, it is like seeing and understanding that which lies most hidden within us, “the obscure substance that we, unwittingly, are”, how can one “describe this volatile background without points of reference, which has the most important, but also the most unstable, relationships with thought? Only music is able to do so”.
Therefore, the search for that vibration begins with the sound of the voice, the double bass and the percussion.
At Chiostro Nina Vinchi
7 p.m. - "Una parola al giorno" performance
9.30 p.m. - "Genji Lab | Mother" concert with Cesare Picco, by Yamaha
Duration: one hour
Credits
Piccolo Teatro Grassi
Thursday 14 September 2017, 7.30 pm
Monsieur Teste | Italy
by Paul Valéry
with Chiara Guidi (vocals), Michele Rabbia (percussion, electronics), Daniele Roccato (double bass, electronics)
sound Andrea Scardovi, graphic effects Maurizio Misiano
a Socìetas production
in collaboration with Ass. Cult. LSD/Controchiave
Information and bookings
Telephone service 02.42.41.48.89
From Monday to Saturday 9.45 a.m. – 6.45 p.m.
Sunday 10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Teatro Strehler
From Monday to Saturday 9.45 a.m. to 6.45 p.m.
Sunday 1.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
On the evening of the performance the sale of tickets will close one hour before the performance begins.
Groups and organisations
For information on tickets and subscriptions for groups and organisations, and afternoon performances for schools and educational shows, please contact the Servizio Promozione Pubblico e Proposte Culturali.
Tel. 02.72.333.216
e-mail: promozione.pubblico@piccoloteatromilano.it