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Freedom: A Contemporary Performance is an innovative event that combines artists hailing from very diverse fields.
Their individual performances will ultimately culminate in this multi-disciplinary manifestation, with sound, movement and interactive visuals merging into one partly-devised performance tackling issues surrounding the notion of ‘freedom’.
“I chose the topic primarily because it is close to my heart, especially from an artistic perspective,” said Justin Galea, who came up with the concept for this event. “Those who know me musically know I’m an improviser and that I love to experiment by having impromptu tangents during a musical performance.”
With this in mind, it is safe to assume that the show will not only focus on music, and that one must also expect a few surprises.
Through the performance’s aesthetics, the artists will attempt to demonstrate what it means to be free by being free on stage, therefore transforming it into a field of experimentation.
All participating artists were purposely picked because they are inclined to experiment or improvise.
“With this performance I want to challenge myself to go into previously untouched areas, consequently getting a grasp on producing an inter-disciplinary performance,” Galea explained. “I learn by doing and by practice, and although I have been educated in classical music as a pianist and flutist, I never took vocal lessons.”
This doesn’t seem to have held him back at all, as anyone who has watched Galea in action will attest.
“Through performing countless gigs, concerts and other experiences, I managed to develop my own vocal technique, and this performance is a bit about using a similar and parallel approach, but on a different platform.”
The bottom line is that for all participating artists, Freedom is more than just a performance, where the learning process is as important as the performance itself. “I’ve also encouraged all the participating artists to challenge themselves in their respective fields, or possibly try engaging in other disciplines as well as collaborating with other artists.”
And to press the challenging aspect further, Galea says the choice of venue is also part of the process.
“The theatre we’re using is not the conventional space for contemporary performances, because I want to challenge the mentality that opting for unusual locations is risky, and prove that it can make things more interesting for both performers and audience.”
This event, it transpires, is but a tiny step in Galea’s ambitions. “I have a long-term dream, which is to direct a fully-fledged contemporary opera or post-opera performance, based on devised music and dance-theatre techniques.”
This event, then, can be considered a pilot project for his higher aspirations. The audience also has a part to play in all of it. “There will be a discussion after the performance and I would like the audience to comment and ask questions about what they will have seen and heard.”
The performance will feature Matt Grima Connell, Simone Inguanez, Danjeli Schembri, Rebecca Camilleri, Mariele Żammit, Joseph Camilleri, Warren Galea, Claire Tonna and Justin Galea.
Freedom: A Contemporary Performance will be held next Sunday at the Notre Dame Hall, Żabbar. Entrance is €10 each (16+) and tickets are available online. For more information look up the event page on Facebook, call 7931 1999 or send an e-mail to contemporarymalta@gmail.com.
www.contemporarymalta.yapsody.com