“As the hours pass, you are drawn into the ritual … your whole life has become Stockhausen.”
—The Financial Times (UK)
“[Stockhausen’s] score, a richly layered aural experience makes a case for music’s ability to shake your bones, tickle your ears and take hold of your consciousness.”
—The New York Times
Few hold as much of an esteemed role in the evolution of contemporary composition and studio technique than Karlheinz Stockhausen. One of the most experimental and progressive composers of the 20th century, his innovations forever changed approaches to utilizing electronics in art music and the ways in which we listen. This classical renegade’s influence can still be felt today, inspiring everyone from Björk to Aphex Twin, Miles Davis to Animal Collective, and more.
His magnum opus Licht—a seven opera cycle each representing a day of the week—is an epic 29-hour work for vocal, instrumental, and electronic forces that is rarely performed given its length and the different configurations of musicians and spaces needed.
Several electronic compositions from this opus, performed by one of his original collaborators Kathinka Pasveer, are presented as two parts on separate evenings or in a full marathon with transformative lighting and video projections to fully immerse the audience in the all-encompassing sound and surroundings. The vastness of the Wade Thompson Drill Hall is the perfect setting to fully realize these works as Stockhausen so boldly envisioned in their highly-anticipated North American premieres.
Related Event
Artist Talk: Inside Light
Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 3:00pm
Tickets: $25 (plus fees)
One of Stockhausen’s original collaborators and directors of the Stockhausen Foundation for Music, sound projectionist Kathinka Pasveer, is joined by trumpeter and Stockhausen scholar Joe Drew to examine Stockhausen’s masterful electronic compositions, realizing them at the Armory, and his enduring influence and legacy.
North American Premiere
Composition Karlheinz Stockhausen
Sound Projection Kathinka Pasveer
Spatial Installation and Lighting Design Urs Schönebaum
Video Design Robi Voigt
Sound Engineer Reinhard Klose
Original Concept Pierre Audi
Photo: Video still courtesy of Robi Voigt
June 5–14, 2024
Individual Parts
Wednesday–Thursday at 7:00pm
Marathon
Saturday, June 8 at 4:00pm (Part 1)
and 7:30pm (Part 2)
After Hours Marathon
Friday, June 14 at 6:30pm (Part 1)
and 10:00pm (Part 2)
To view a full schedule of performances, click here.
Performance Details
Wade Thompson Drill Hall
Seating will be on cushions and backjacks directly on the floor. Participants can move freely throughout the space.
Part 1: All-Stockhausen Program
Montags-Gruss
Unsichtbare Chöre from Donnerstag
Mittwochs-Gruss
2 hours and 30 minutes with intermission
Part 2: All-Stockhausen Program
Freitags-Gruss
Freitags-Abschied
2 hours and 45 minutes with intermission
Marathon
6 hours and 30 minutes, including intermissions and a one-hour dinner break
Tickets
Tickets $50 (plus fees) for individual parts and $75 (plus fees) for full marathon
Become an Armory member and save 10% on tickets!
Marathon Meals
Complete your Inside Light Marathon experience by pre-ordering a $30 prepared meal to enjoy on-site during the production’s scheduled dinner break. Pre-orders must be received at least 1 week prior to the scheduled performance date.
Subscribe and Save
Purchase tickets to three or more events in our 2024 season and save up to 20%! Subscribers also receive waived facility fees, free ticket exchanges, and more. More info.
Sign up for our email list to get notifications and reminders about purchasing tickets for other upcoming events.
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.