Cantus Ensemble on the Music Biennale Zagreb

A premiere performance of the ballet Air by young croatian composer Krešimir Seletković is scheduled for the closing ceremony of the 26th Music Biennale Zagreb, on 17 April 2011 at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb with the participation of choreographer Martino Müller and conductor Berislav Šipuš, as well as of lightning designer Valerio Tiberi.

The composer is quite secretive, ‘It would be superfluous to talk about the content because of its abstraction. You will see a sequence of scenes enacting the real-life situations when everyone is surrounded by air or those which present the meaning of air to all us. The Cantus Ensemble will be placed in the orchestra pit playing under the baton of Berislav Šipuš. The orchestra line-up will include sixteen instruments combined with the electronic accompaniment reproduced from the media. This combination of ‘live' instruments and electronics has inspired us to try creating something completely new in terms of both visual and auditory experience.'

The Swiss choreographer of international reputation, Martino Müller, has authored the storyline taking place within the thirteen scenes. The intention is to celebrate air and express one's fascination with the shared experience of breathing, living and passing through life. According to him, a journey through the fragile world of breathing is a hope for the intertwined relationship between nature and human being. A motif of raven stands for a connection between mysticism and reality.