Lamento di Medea

Wim Henderickx created a concert version of the music theatre work Medea especially for the Venice Music Biennale. MEDEA was first performed in May 2011 at deSingel in Antwerp and toured Belgium and the Netherlands (2011-2012). In LAMENTO DI MEDEA, soprano Selva Erdener sang four laments. This Turkish singer was not given any lyrics in the semantic sense; she merely interpreted musical sounds. Her music reflects the inner world of pain, love and sorrow in an introspective way. She was accompanied by the duduk, an Armenian instrument that closely resembles the human voice. The musical material consists of one large melody characterised by the use of quarter tones (intervals smaller than a semitone), usually worked out in a heterophonic manner (simultaneously playing variants on the same melody). The electronics provide a soundscape, a constant “drone”. Both vocals and instruments are amplified, not to distort, but to add colour. This enriches the whole and gives it an extra dimension. The typically Western flute, viola and clarinet are accompanied by two percussionists (including the composer) and an electric guitar, which surprisingly fits in with the introspective and melodic character of the music, but also contradicts it. - Stephan Moens in de Morgen about LAMENTO DI MEDEA (3/10/2011): “(...) Those who dare to go along with the music are not only intoxicated by the 'divine lengths”, but also gradually realise what infanticide means: the consistent farewell to a love that is too great, and therefore also a kind of emotional suicide. (...) In any case, Henderickx has been able to present himself on the international stage as an unmistakable voice. That is no small achievement and an equally great opportunity.' MEDEA was commissioned by HERMESensemble and Muziektheater Transparant, with support from the Flemish government and the city of Antwerp.