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"The Cabinet of Dr Caligari" Highlights from the 2020 Australian Tour

20/10/2021

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In need of liberation? Join me online for a concert on 26 Nov

21/11/2020

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powered by Crowdcast
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✨Faust: a mortal's tale" IS out now ✨

2/11/2020

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Why "Faust" you may ask?
The Faust story is so fascinatingly embedded in the roots of human philosophy and morality.
It is so relatable whether you realise it or not,
“I know this is bad, but I’m still gonna do it and pay the price!”
Mortality has become such a global theme of 2020
through the disruption of norms and questioning
of one’s reality and existence.
Dr Faust’s fantastic tale makes us share in the same essence:
human meaning, temptation, conflicting dualities of the mind
and facing the unknown.
 
Faust: a Mortal’s Tale draws its inspiration from the silent film ‘Faust’ (Murnau, 1926)
​and is a personal musical reflection on the following story:
 
“The old Dr Faust ponders over his life (Rachmaninov, Prelude Op. 32 No. 12) and begins a journey into the unknown (Catoire, Quatre Morceaux). As he walks the earth (Say, Black Earth), he finds himself in deep contemplation (Debussy, Claire de Lune). In a furious rage, he conjures Mephistopheles who grants him all earthly pleasures in exchange for his soul (Liszt, Mephisto Waltz). He seduces the beautiful Spanish princess (Granados, Oriental) but is tricked into eternal damnation (De Falla, Ritual Fire Dance) where only through redemption and death (Rachmaninov, Etude Op 39, Nr 2 "Dies Irae"), is he granted an ascent into the heavens (Led Zeppelin, Stairways).” 


It’s become a joyful habit of mine to tamper with the written score, to not take the notes too seriously, but in a thoughtful way. I’m sure that Bach, Beethoven and Liszt often (not all the time!) wrote in a way, either in skeletal form, or deliberately mundane and repetitious, or alluding to improvisation, with the expectation for performers to try new things, as if to create a secret portal. Depending on the context, it’s as though many scores were designed for performers to think outside the box, to give an individual stamp of expression or to even a push the performer into the direction of composition and improvisation. This was, after all, so common of performers a few hundred years ago, though considered sacrilegious by many hardened academics of today.
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Chris Groenhout ©
I chose the Australian-made ‘Big Beleura’ piano as the instrument for this recording because it offers expressive qualities different to conventional 88 key grand pianos. It has 108 keys, making it the world’s first 9-octave piano, with the keyboard expanding in both directions, down to a lower C, (an extra 9 keys) and up to a higher B (an extra 11). I’ve reimagined each piece specifically for this instrument and have loved making use of its huge range, four pedals and unique sonority.

These new ideas, Dr Faust’s tale, the ‘Big Beleura’ piano and new explorations
have driven my creative direction for some time,
​so I hope you enjoy this album..
like exotic fruits that have never before been tasted.
Do you dare to try one?

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Dr Caligari part of the 'Special Projects'  series by    KD Schmid

13/11/2019

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Stay tuned in 2020
for 
Ashley Hribar plays Dr Caligari: Musical Rebirth of a Silent Film Legend
selected for the "Special Projects" series by agency KD Schmid (Germany)


The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Wiene, 1920), one of cinema’s most influential Expressionist silent horror films, celebrates its 100th year. Australian pianist/composer Ashley Hribar performs on an amplified piano (inside and out) plus electronics, Moog DFAM drum machine, bells, eggs shakers and even a toilet brush! Witnessing Hribar is indeed a spectacle in itself. Our hero, Francis, grapples with the deranged Caligari in a world that is not quite what it seems. Who is responsible for the mysteriously coincidental crimes that take place? Only the audience is left to decide. Watch and listen to Ashley luring his audience into the dark depths of this quirky story, creating colourful landscapes of sound, funnier, scarier and more hauntingly bizarre than ever imaginable.
Feb 26  Adelaide Fringe, Mercury Cinema (AUS)
Feb 27  Adelaide Fringe, Mercury Cinema (AUS)
Feb 28  Adelaide Fringe, Mercury Cinema (AUS)
April 30 Einbeck "Die Tangobrücke" (GER)
May 15 Coriole Festival (AUS)
Aug 8  Newcastle Festival (AUS)
Nov 29 Göppingen Theatre (GER)
*more performances to be announced soon
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Excellent times  - premiere performance of "Wodunga" for piano, didgeridoo and Moog Dfam by Ashley Hribar/william barton

13/11/2019

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It's here!  Sleeping Orchards for piano +cello+electronics+DFam mOOg

17/7/2019

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spontaneous  grooves with Tabla guru, Sandip Ghosh

14/7/2019

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August 17th, 2018

17/8/2018

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Excited to share this 2 min trailer of music i wrote for The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1921) for piano, keyboard, bits of metal, rubber and a toilet brush. One of the cleverest films of the silent era! 
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August 17th, 2018

17/8/2018

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New project with Sandip Ghosh (tabla)

6/8/2018

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Here's a little teaser...
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Australian Tour with soprano Ayse Göknur Shanal

7/4/2018

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The "Sound and  Colour in Scriabin's Piano Sonatas"  documentary is here!

20/2/2018

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This documentary includes highlights from the 2017 European Tour "Sound and Colour in Scriabin's Piano Sonatas", in a series of 7 concerts given at Universities across Germany, Austria and Luxembourg. It includes introductory speeches, Q&As and master classes featuring pianists Konstantin Shamray, Mekhla Kumar, Stefan Ammer and myself. The performances explore Scriabin's synaethsesia together with highly individual interpretations of his 10 piano sonatas, each subtly enhanced by unique videos of Australian opals  projected onto the interiors walls of each venue. This project gratefully acknowledges the generous support from the University of Adelaide, The Ukaria Foundation, Recitals Australia, Jacqueline Wander and Maria Sbizzirri (project Coordinator) and countless donations from private sponsors.
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The 2017 European  Tour   "Sound  and  Colour in Scriabin's Piano  Sonatas"

24/11/2017

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In collaboration with my dear colleagues and friends, Mekhla Kumar, Konstantin Shamray and Stefan Ammer, this multi-media project involved the performance of Scriabin's 10 piano sonatas enhanced with projected opal visualisations. Inspired by  my lifelong fascination for this national Australian gemstone, the beautiful changing colours that accompanied each sonata were intended to emulate Scriabin's Synaesthetic ability, with the aim to create, much like his vision for 'The Mysterium', a fully immersive experience. The seven performances, which included  masterclasses, lessons and public Q & A discussions, were given at the music  Universities of Karlsruhe, Freiburg and Rostock (Germany ); The Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Music University in Graz,   the Bösendorfersaal in Vienna (Austria) and at the Conservatorium in Luxembourg.  We gratefully acknowledge the kind generosity of our sponsors; The University  of Adelaide; The Ukaria Foundation;  Jacqueline Wander; Maria Spizziri;  Recitals Australia (auspicing body); and the many private donors   who contributed to help make this project possible.
Stay tuned for the 2017 Scriabin Tour documentary...!
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Richard  III  Interactive  Dance/Film  Score for Silents  Now

1/8/2017

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An intensely  inspirational collaborative project  with  Judith  Buchanan for Silents Now  in the  creation of  an interactive  dance  and  film  score  to  one of the oldest  existing  films  Richard  III (1910). Here is a short 'making of' documentary ..
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small excerpt from 'Betty Rettet Die Volksbuehne' in Berlin on 21 Jan, 2017

23/2/2017

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tiny excerpt of an improvised score to  'Hamlet' (1921)  with Lenka Zupkova (vl + electronics and Ashley Hribar (p + keyboard)  

15/1/2017

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Upcoming improvised soundtrack to 'Hamlet' (1921) with Lenka Zupkova (Ensemble Megaphon) Hannover 15.01.17

11/1/2017

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improvisation on the Stuart  & Sons.. looking for beats...

20/12/2016

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Bach......i.m.p.r.o.v........Bach!

7/9/2016

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exploring the Stuart & Sons piano in Journey to Damascus...
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new  CD release  for Wizard Tone Records  

2/7/2016

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Marriage- Frederic Rzewski

2/7/2016

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Recent performance of  Frederic Rzewski's ​  "Marriage" (Mile 58 of The Road)  in Potsdam on 26 June 2016.
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a new  improvised score to Shakespeare's HAMLET 

18/4/2016

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performed on 21 March at the Capri Theatre in  co-operation  with ' Silents  Now'
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Excerpts  from  'I am  GOD'- the  complete  piano  sonatas  by  Alexander  Scriabin performed by Ashley Hribar, Mekhla Kumar, Konstantin Shamray and Stefan Ammer with  visual  projection of natural  free form opals.

3/4/2016

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At the Capri Theatre performing 'Hamlet:  Drama of Vengeance'

3/4/2016

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An improvised score to the silent film  Hamlet (1920)  starring Asta Nielson  with  Julian  Ferraretto (violin),  Rachel  Johnston  (cello)
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rehearsing 'Hanging  Rock' by Michael  Sollis 

30/3/2016

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Performing  with the wonderful  cellist Rachel Johnston in Canberra for  the  Griffyn  Ensemble  27/2 &28/2 at the National  Art  Gallery  of  Australia.  More info  here
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