Kickstarter

concert:nova presents Frankenstein!!

A chaotic mix of the comic and macabre, HK Gruber's "FRANKENSTEIN!!" is a twisted variation on children's rhymes perfectly suited for the Halloween season. But this "pan-demonium" for chamber ensemble is anything but child's play. The idea to mount this piece came up during a brainstorming session with Edwin Outwater, a Chicago-based conductor that we love to work with. After listening to the music the idea evolved to present the music with an artistic narrative, in a series of vignettes. Enter assemblage artist Peter Haberkorn, who makes his home here in Cincinnati. 

Haberkorn was inspired by the text: a set of German children's rhymes called "Noises Noises All Around" by H.C. Artmann. It's a series of satirical poems mashed up with pop culture heroes, villains and demons, Batman in bed with Robin, John Wayne and Goldfinger, that is everything BUT for children!  "Eyes from a current pie" and "angel wings tied to rats toes"...  are just two of the lines from this fantastical composition.

Peter says Hello

" Hi, I'm Peter Haberkorn. I am the assemblage artist working with concert:nova to create a portfolio of images that will be projected to accompany the weird and wonderful suite of Frankenstein!! music. To create this work I will collect found objects, many of them toys, which embody the essence of the rhymes. I will then photograph them to imbue them with a new life. This is how I work: I collect unusual objects, from taxidermy to airstream trailer windows to cast-off plumbing to create evocative assemblies." (haberkorn-alchemy.com)

Between 30 and 40 original artworks will accompany the music and illuminate the score of "FRANKENSTEIN!!" You'll see some of these original objects as rewards for the contributions you make, as well as artwork offered as 8x10 and 16x20 gift prints!

On Stage

Frankenstein!! is performed by a 12-player concert:nova chamber ensemble, which gets to double on toy instruments and paper bags that "should make a deafening noise when burst" according to the score. "It's a truly bizarre, haunting hilarious piece of music," says our conductor, Edwin Outwater. "The narration examines all the unspoken weirdness in what's going on in the mind of child. A particularly warped child."  

New York cabaret phenom Isengart (isengart.info.com) comes to Cincinnati to take the role of chansonnier for these performances. The unorthodox narrative part involves speaking, whispering, exaggerated operatic singing and shrieking. He is an incredibly poised and focused performer, hypnotic to watch, and perfect for this role. Add to this the toy instruments of the orchestra and you get a completely alien world of sound! We will be led by the up-and-coming conductor Edwin Outwater, who's the music director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and a frequent guest with concert:nova. (edwinoutwater.com)

The Theater

Last but not least, the space in which all this madness will occur is one that was chosen to complement and enhance the music...the hauntingly beautiful Emery Theater. This grand historical building is a gem in the heart of downtown Cincinnati; plans for the theater's revival are in the work.  By lighting up the theater, concert:nova hopes to bring awareness to the importance of restoring it.

Funding

The initial $7500 goal will be split between concert:nova and Peter Haberkorn to fund the creation of the images and the costs of the production, including copyright fees and rental. Any additional funds beyond our goal will be split 3:1 to further support production costs like piano rental, tech and lighting support and travel costs for guest artists.

To show our thanks for your support we have created a list of Electrifying Rewards, that includes t-shirts to prints of the artwork, to invites to the Preview Party!  (Fine print: The electrifying rewards do have a shipping and handling costs, for uninsured domestic.... posters, books and T-shirts please add $10. Artifacts please add $15. International single item please add $30 and multiple items please add $50. Thanks!)

We THANK YOU, THANK YOU and again: THANK YOU for your support and look forward to seeing you in October!

Yours truly,

concert:nova & Peter Haberkorn

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concert:nova (concertnova.com) seeks to reshape the classical music experience by performing world class chamber music in diverse and unusual venues using interdisciplinary collaboration to illuminate the music. The performance will take place on October 19th and 21st 2012 at 8m in Cincinnati's Emery Theater.