Our musical principles
At the centre of "Our Musical Principles" are two monologues - spoken by Ana Berkenhoff and Sandra Utzinger - which deal with exclusion, exclusivity and their preservation on the one hand, and with breaking chains, infiltrating deadlocks and promoting new laws on the other hand, from opposing perspectives. Andreas Liebmann uses terms in connection with music in a very wordy and multi-faceted way to create an ecstatic flood of letters of poetry. (...) The fantasy on both sides of the intentions is very clearly expressed in the text in its variety of excuses, apologies and appeasements (...). P. S. newspaper, Thierry Forchaux (24.02.2017)
Direct democracy likes to present itself as a good school orchestra. Yet its instruments have long since scratched deadly melodies. Sounds of high culture clean up stations of riffraff. Identity melodies play catchy tunes in newspaper editorial offices, schoolyards and foyers. The International of Nationalism booms its basso continuo left and right through all auditory canals. – composed from cultural superiority, resentful filth and the illusion of the right tone. If there is one lesson to be learned from contemporary cat music, it is that every sequence of notes, endlessly repeated, will eventually extinguish itself. Who’s voice voices determines the sound, and what is right, we decide.
“Our musical principles” mixes these moods. Two female sound carriers and a melody worker test compositions and try to listen to their inner voice. They receive visits from strangers and try to arrange the impossible. Who makes the program? We make the program. That is our music.
Direction and Text Andreas Liebmann
With Ana Berkenhoff, Mansour Beiglar, Kamran Mohammadi, Joshua Schweizer, Sandra Utzinger Dramaturgy Johanna-Yasirra Kluhs
Music Matthias Meppelink
Equipment Stephanie Rossi & Jens Müller (preparation: Mai Gogishvili)
Assistance Jule Zeschky
Production management Luisa Grass, Annett Hardegen
Technical direction and lighting Tashi-Yves Dobler López and Paul Schuler
Technical direction tour Benjamin Hauser
Graphic Manuel Bürger
Co-production Theater Winkelwiese Zurich, Schlachthaus Theater Bern and Theater Chur
Supported by the City of Zurich Culture, Culture Department of the Canton of Zurich, Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council, MIGROS-KULTURPROZENT, Fondation Nestlé pour l'Art