Antigel - MARIO BATKOVIC

 

MARIO BATKOVIC

H - (Doors: H)

Alhambra Room, Geneva

H - (Doors: H)

Alhambra Room, Geneva

Mario Batkovic carves a thousand unknown sounds from his accordion in a unique, quasi-steampunk experience.

Originally from Bosnia, a country with a long tradition of thundering accordions, Mario Batkovic brings a sci-fi vibe to this slightly outdated instrument. Stretching it to its limits, he unfolds the rib cage of this strange musical book and exploits every click, gasp and breath for rhythmic or melodic purposes to create a quasi-steampunk universe that oscillates between classical music, minimalism, repetitive music and jazz. As part of his ongoing artistic relationship with Antigel, Batkovic has created a unique and bespoke performance for 2021. Each performance will consist of two very different halves. One will feature unpublished electronic music from his international composition and soundtrack work, and for the second, Batkovic will be performing his solo accordion work. He will be bringing a vast array of synthesisers, hand built and bespoke electronic instruments from his studio in Bern, to recreate this work in front of a live audience for the first time.

Alhambra Room, Geneva

Built between 1918 and 1920 by architect Paul Perrin, this film theatre, originally called Omnia, boasted the country’s first sound cinema installation as early as 1928. It also hosted numerous shows and concerts. Premonitory! Unfortunately, this cosy venue was destined to be demolished to make way for a car park… But, phew! classified as a historical monument and defended by many enthusiasts, it was saved with an ambitious objective: to reconcile the heritage aspects of the site with the requirements of a contemporary concert hall. Carefully renovated, the new 750-seat modular space, in metallic and red colours, was inaugurated in 2015 and is a real showcase for today’s music.

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