The Autres Mesures festival is rounding off its 2020 edition with a full and eclectic programme. This afternoon will include events held in various rooms of the Opéra as amateur and professional musicians pool their talents to perform a selection of key pieces from the 20th century (Rothko Chapel by Morton Feldman for choir and small ensemble; Messagesquisse by Pierre Boulez for cello septet) and lesser known works (Non, pas encore for voice and horn by Bernard Devienne, Quasi canto for percussion by Robert Pascal, etc.)
At 4 pm, the final concert will be held on the main stage of the Opéra, with Julius Eastman, oeuvre pour 4 pianos. After studying under composers such as Morton Feldman and Lukas Foss, Julius Eastman (1940 – 1990) was set for a promising musical future.
In 1980, he performed across the USA and Europe, becoming a key part of the New York scene. However, his self-destructive tendencies caught up with him and ended the life of this exceptional artist. The extraordinary trilogy comprising Evil Nigger, Crazy Nigger & Gay Guerilla, whose titles evoke the search for identity and rebellion that plagued the composer, is a telling illustration of his contribution to the American minimalism movement.
The pianos will be played by four artists representing a generation of hybrid performers, comfortable with both classical and contemporary repertoire: Melaine Dalibert, Stephane Ginsburgh, Nicolas Horvath and Wilhem Latchoumia.
