Quintessence
Solo Sound Performance
2015, ongoing |
The Maltese artist created an unparalleled sensitising atmosphere […] Spiteri demonstrated an extraordinary talent for questioning the possibilities of the objects surrounding him and converting the insights gained into sounds. His performance demonstrated a singular, aesthetic fascination”
From “Beauty in the Unknown”, B. Stegemann, Frankfurter Allgemeine, November 2015
What started off as random experimentation of electronics, sonic qualities of large metal sheets and unconventional use of particular percussion instruments and found objects, developed over time into a full-fledged solo sound performance called Quintessence. The push to gather thoughts, scribbles, data and programming into a form of loose framework was a result of an invitation to launch a new work during Future Everything Festival 2015 in partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester).
‘Quintessence’ has been described as an "immersive performance" created through an alluring world of sounds… and I do believe it is. While performing Quintessence, I am able to go to places inhabited by own imagination, to construct my own sound spheres of environments I want to go to, find myself in and experience. The performance seems to take the audience on a journey too- their very own journey- in a very personal manner. It’s always a privilege for me to hear people’s feedback, the places they have been to during those 50 minutes or so- some imaginary, others associated to memory and life experience.
‘Quintessence’ has been described as an "immersive performance" created through an alluring world of sounds… and I do believe it is. While performing Quintessence, I am able to go to places inhabited by own imagination, to construct my own sound spheres of environments I want to go to, find myself in and experience. The performance seems to take the audience on a journey too- their very own journey- in a very personal manner. It’s always a privilege for me to hear people’s feedback, the places they have been to during those 50 minutes or so- some imaginary, others associated to memory and life experience.
In a process of spatial and sonic transformations, Quintessence invites the audience to aurally commit itself to this intimate solo live performance, by actively listening to the work, a significant part of which is based on improvisation.
An immersive experience with truly hypnotic soundscapes that evoke myriad contrasting emotions during the space of less than an hour […] It is a piece that touches the soul directly.”
From 'A Tapestry of Sound and Emotions' by Ramona Depares, Arts and Culture Editor, The Sunday Times, April 2015
Immense performance by sound artist Renzo Spiteri […] The set lasted for 45 minutes but felt like 10 as we were fully entranced as an audience, anticipating the next movement.”
Manchester School of Art
Quintessence traces its roots to an artistic collaboration between Renzo Spiteri and the Royal Conservatoire of Music of The Hague (The Netherlands) in September 2012, brought about by invitation of the city of The Hague, former Dutch candidate competing for the title of Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018. Launched at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (UK) in partnership with Future Everything Festival 2015, Quintessence has since been presented in several cities across Europe and was selected as the official touring project of Valletta 2018 - European Capital of Culture.
Premiere performance:
Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, England) as part of Future Everything Festival 2015.
Other performances:
Serbian National Theatre (2019, Novi Sad (Serbia))
Explore the North Festival 2018 (Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)
GOFF Festival 2017 (Gothenburg, Sweden)
City studio Theatre (2016 Valletta (Malta)) - Opening event for 'Cities as Community Spaces' Conference, hosted by The Valletta 2018 Foundation - ECoC
Jerwood Hall, LSO St. Luke’s (2016, London (England))
Crescent Arts Centre (2016, Belfast (N. Ireland))
Axis Arts Centre (2016, Crewe (England))
St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (2016, Valletta (Malta))
PNEM Sound Art Festival 2015 (Uden, (The Netherlands))
Gallus Theater (2015, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)) - Official event at the European Cultural Days of the European Central Bank - Malta 2015
Supported by #EngageCREATIVES. Selected performances also supported by Valletta 2018 Foundation as part of the Valletta - European Capital of Culture 2018 Programme, and by Cultural Export Fund, Arts Council Malta.
Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, England) as part of Future Everything Festival 2015.
Other performances:
Serbian National Theatre (2019, Novi Sad (Serbia))
Explore the North Festival 2018 (Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)
GOFF Festival 2017 (Gothenburg, Sweden)
City studio Theatre (2016 Valletta (Malta)) - Opening event for 'Cities as Community Spaces' Conference, hosted by The Valletta 2018 Foundation - ECoC
Jerwood Hall, LSO St. Luke’s (2016, London (England))
Crescent Arts Centre (2016, Belfast (N. Ireland))
Axis Arts Centre (2016, Crewe (England))
St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (2016, Valletta (Malta))
PNEM Sound Art Festival 2015 (Uden, (The Netherlands))
Gallus Theater (2015, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)) - Official event at the European Cultural Days of the European Central Bank - Malta 2015
Supported by #EngageCREATIVES. Selected performances also supported by Valletta 2018 Foundation as part of the Valletta - European Capital of Culture 2018 Programme, and by Cultural Export Fund, Arts Council Malta.