Acclaimed Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop, together with the musician, singer and poet Anika, join forces to reinterpret a true gem of music history: Nico’s mystical solo-album Desertshore from 1970. The cult album, arranged and produced by John Cale in 1970, combines elements of Gothic, Folkrock and Romantic styles.
Set in the form of a song cycle, it draws inspiration from the symbolism of the German Romantic traditions. It is dark and unsettling, and the singing conveys a deep understanding of the music while at the same time keeping a strange distance to it.
In contrast, Kaleidoskop presents Witold Lutosławski‘s complex Preludes and Fugue for 13 strings. Composed in the same year, the two pieces could not be more different: Between aleatoricism and the highest complexity, seven very different and overlapping preludes precede a large-scale fugue.
Founded in 2006 in Berlin, Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop has since its inception dedicated itself to the development of new forms of experimental music theater. With great openness, the ensemble creates new formats in collaboration with international artists from other genres and stages music in current contexts. In recent years, the focus of the ensemble’s work has shifted to an examination of the body. The members of the ensemble have developed from pure instrumentalists to musical performers and co-authors of these collaborative productions.
Annika Henderson is a musician, poet and artist who rose to fame as Anika with two highly acclaimed eponymous records. The former journalist made a name for herself in the electronic music scene with her experimental sound collages, confrontational texts and unique way of performing live solo. Her breakthrough came in 2010 with the release of the cult-hit LP, ‚Anika‘ (Stones Throw /Invada), which she recorded with Beak> in Bristol, which began her long and winding road into the music, film, poetry and arts scenes.
Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop & Anika present:
Nico – Desertshore
Thursday, 2.11.2023 | Doors 19:00 | Starts 20:00 CET
Betonhalle silent green | Gerichtstraße 35 in 13347 Berlin-Wedding
