Classical:NEXT is the global networking and exchange hub dedicated exclusively to classical and art music, for all professionals – artists, managers, presenters, orchestras, labels, educators, press, media, publishers and more. It consists of an interactive conference, project pitches, showcase concerts, expo, innovation award and networking.
In 2014, my solo project of music and visual arts COLOURS (watch the teaser) was selected for the showcases of the Vienna edition. In addition to perform at renowned “Porgy & Bess” in the Austrian capital, I met many interesting people with different and ideas and proposals. Later, in 2016, I went to Rotterdam to catch up with agents, promoters, managers and international contemporary music festivals.
For the current edition of Classical:NEXT (congratulations for this tenth!), the jury of the showcases has selected one of my latest projects: the one by Morphosis Duo with my dear friend, composer and sound artist Joan Bagés i Rubí.
Morphosis Duo debuted in a concert for the Current Catalan Composers Association in Barcelona in October 2016. This duo is the simplest version of Morphosis Ensemble, a flexible collective engaged in the dissemination of electroacoustic music, a genre representing a step forward in the (r)evolution of music of the 20th-21st centuries. As Morphosis Duo, we also performed at New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival in June 2017 and at Festival Bruits Blancs (France) inDecember 2021 presenting our project SCRATCH! (watch the teaser).
THIS IS NOT A FAD! is the new project by Morphosis Duo, the programme consisting entirely of works by three generations of female composers (in alphabetical order): “our dear” Mercè Capdevila with Christine Groult, Hanna Hartman, Manon Lepauvre, Olga Neuwirth and Albena Petrovic.
THIS IS NOT A FAD! not only aims to reclaim a role of women in music (especially in the field of composition) that has been so marginal. It also seeks to reflect upon the question of gender in music. Are there features that demonstrate that a work has been composed by a man or a woman? Except for voice, is the gender difference appreciated when a piece is performed by a woman or a man? Do female listen in the same way as male audiences?
I feel really honored and fortunate to be able to premiere THIS IS NOT A FAD! in this such an important event as Classical:NEXT on Wednesday 18 May at 22.15 CEST at the main hall of Schauspiel Hannover (Germany). I would like to thank Catalan Arts! for their support.
Let’s goooo!!
Joan Martí-Frasquier
Barcelona, May 2022
