alva noto + ryuichi sakamoto - insen

‘…as thrilling as a virtuoso tightrope walk, and, ultimately, as emotionally pulverising…a privilege to witness’ – Frieze Magazine, 2006

insen is the live collaboration between critically–acclaimed electronic composer/visual artist Carsten Nicolai [alva noto] and multi award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Subtle digital processing and an on-stage LED screen installation by Nicolai counterbalance and manipulate Sakamoto's elegant piano phrasing, creating vivid dialogues between melody, rhythm and texture. insen creates a new synergy between acoustic piano and electronic music, demonstrating these artists’ aspirations to explore the idea of electronic music as an inspiration for new musical structures.

Featuring tracks from vrioon and insen albums and the revep EP - the celebrated collaborative releases by noto and Sakamoto released on the raster-noton label in 2005/06 - the third tour followed two major sold-out European tours during autumn 05 and summer 06. Presented at major venues and festivals throughout Australia and Asia, insen will be performed over three days at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, followed by a date in Macao, several performances in Japan and a final presentation in Hong Kong on 4 November. insen features a specially commissioned digital instrument used by Nicolai. An on-stage video installation by the artist, in collaboration with visual software designer Karl Kliem, will create a distinctive stage set featuring dynamic, real-time visualisation of the sound as graphics.

2nd European tour

11 Jun 06 | Casa da Musica, Porto, PT
13 Jun 06 | Coliseum, Lisboa, PT
15 Jun 06 | Sonar, Barcelona, ES
17 Jun 06 | Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid, Madrid, ES
18 Jun 06 | Auditorio de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, ES
20 Jun 06 | Holland Festival, Amsterdam, NL
23 Jun 06 | Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival, Roma, IT
24 Jun 06 | Neapolis Festival, Arena Flegrea, Napoli , IT
26 Jun 06 | Le Ciminiere Amphitheatre, Catania, IT
29 Jun 06 | Wien Jazz Festival, Wien, AT
02 Jul 06 | Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, DK

Tour of Australia and Asia

12 - 14 Oct 06 | Melbourne International Art Festival, AU
18 Oct 06 | Macau International Music Festival, CN
22 Oct 06 | YCAM, Yamaguchi, JP (2 Performances)
24 & 25 Oct 06 | Geijutsu Hall, Osaka, JP
28 & 29 Oct 06 | Shibuya Ko-Kai-Do, Tokyo, JP
31 Oct 06 | Tokyo International Forum Hall C, Tokyo, JP
4 Nov 06 | New Vision Arts Festival 2006, HK (2 Performances)

Produced by Forma
Co-produced by Romaeuropa Festival / Santa Cecilia It's Wonderful

Related links

alva noto
ryuichi sakamoto
insen 1st European tour

Further information for presenters of Forma projects

Professional