Peter Rundel direcção musical
Georg Friedrich Haas In Vain
The New York Times described In Vain as “waves of opulently strange, beautiful sounds flooded that often seemed that supernatural forces were at work”, adding that it was difficult to believe that all those sounds came from acoustic rather than electronic instruments and classifying the composition by Georg Friedrich Haas – Composer in Residence in 2018 – as a masterpiece. Written as an existential statement and a reaction against the “darkening” of Austrian inner politics (the resurgence of the nationalist movement), it shows also the composer’s fascination for music in relation to light and its absence, as parts of this piece are to be played – and listened to – in absolute darkness. Acclaimed conductor Simon Rattle has said that there is no other work to compare, making In Vain an extraordinary example of innovation in music and a piece that, despite being new, is already considered a cult classic.