Up-close: Michel van der Aa’s latest multimedia project

"I wanted a baroque openness without overly romantic melodies, but with long chords and physical virtuosic passages, somewhat like free jazz." (Michel van der Aa)

Michel van der Aa’s Up-close combines cellist Sol Gabetta, string orchestra and film for a European tour (11-20 March). The latest work by van der Aa was commissioned by the ECHO (European Concert Hall Organization) and will have its world premiere the day before being perfomed at the Philharmonie on March 12th.

The young cellist Gabetta was at the top of the list of both Van der Aa and Amsterdam Sinfonietta. "She is someone who is immediately convincing on stage," explained Van der Aa. "There are many good cellists who do not engage their audience so directly. In her case, she keeps her audience on the edge of their seats, captivated by her story; a quality that is extremely important in music."

The composition follows on music-dramatic works such as One (2002), After Life (2005-6) and The Book of Disquiet (2008), in which Van der Aa combines film with music. During Sol Gabetta’s performance, film images show and older woman, the cellist’s alter ego; flashbacks and flash-forwards bring about a dialogue with the action on stage. Up-close is a cello concerto magnified until it reaches the boundary of video opera.

What does Sol Gabetta think of this new composition? Our colleagues from the BOZAR in Brussels had a little chat with her:

On Twitter (where you can follow Michel van der Aa @vanderaanet), you can follow the whole creation of that multimedia piece by searching for #upclose.
There you'll find find tweets like:

21.02.2011:  "Bringing back the rental cello that I used to try out fingering for #upclose. I will miss her! http://twitpic.com/425ty"

21.02.2011: "Working on #upclose video trailer, should be online end of the week!"

16.02.2011: "Work session with cello wizardry extraordinaire Sol Gabetta. #upclose #celloconcerto"

08.02.2011: "On my way to @muziekgebouw where the first chairs of Amsterdam Sinfonietta will have a read through rehearsal of #upclose. Exiting!"

And many many more!

I'm sure that Michel van der Aa will also tweet during the European tour. So stay online and follow the progression of this most exciting work!

Didier