Lone Hemispheres is Ensemble Offspring’s solo series, highlighting modern masterpieces alongside new Australian solo works. For our 2020 solo sessions, creative designer Michelle St Anne was asked to direct the 12 videos. She writes “My theme was ‘all dressed up with no place to go’, hence the socks and bare feet combined with high fashion. The videos are in black and white and a still life is featured on the left of the performer for each work, highlighting how the mundane of everyday life can become poetic over time.” The works in the series include:
Christopher Fox An Extraordinary Mildness (2020) performed by Claire Edwardes
Andrew Ford Hook (2018) performed by Claire Edwardes
Tristan Murail Unanswered Questions (1995) performed by Lamorna Nightingale
Liza Lim Bioluminescence (2020) performed by Lamorna Nightingale
Kate Neal Canyon 1205 (2018, revised 2020) performed by Blair Harris
Kaija Saariaho Sept Papillons (2000) performed by Blair Harris
Giacinto Sclesi Maknongan (1976) performed by Jason Noble
Christopher Tonkin Entr’acte (2015) performed by Jason Noble
Kate Moore Broken Rosary (2010) performed by Freya Schack-Arnott
Alex Pozniak Instructions for Improvisation No. 4: God leaves the room (2018) performed by Freya Schack-Arnott
Cathy Milliken Crie (2018) performed by Véronique Serret
Kaija Saariaho Nocturne (1994) performed by Véronique Serret
© 2020 Ensemble Offspring
Recorded at Baker Street Studios, Sydney
Video & Sound by Matt McGuigan, Hospital Hill
Creative Direction by Michelle St Anne, The Living Room Theatre
Ensemble Offspring is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts advisory body, and the NSW Government. Lone Hemispheres Solo Sessions were supported by the City of Sydney. We live and play on Gadigal land.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LONE HEMISPHERES: THE SOLO SESSIONS
5 stars ★★★★★ “Simply but beautifully filmed and presented, the solo performances can be appreciated on an individual basis, but together they capture a mood of stillness and unease that permeated much of 2020.” – Angus McPherson, Limelight
“There is such musicianship on display in every single performance, combined with an integrity and devotion to the pieces being performed. It really is a very special project.” – Mandy Stefanakis, Loud Mouth
4 stars ★★★★ “Lone Hemispheres: The Solo Sessions has an almost timeless, and surrealist feel.” – Lynne Lancaster, ArtsHub