Stream: The Bird of a Thousand Voices

During Holland Festival 2024, The Bird of a Thousand Voices was performed at the Muziekgebouw. For those who could not be there then, or would like to see this special performance again, it is possible to watch the performance online (as a video on demand). The stream will be available from Friday 28 February 00:01 a.m. until Sunday 2 March 11:59 p.m.

‘Phenomenal musicians, stunning storytelling and elegant stage design.’ - Parool

‘This overwhelming musical performance (...) is powerful in its subtlety mixed with explosiveness.’ - Theaterkrant

An old Armenian folktale about the search for world harmony spectacularly comes to life with a concert in a fantastic moving stage setting with an intriguing light show.

The virtuoso jazz-meets-rock pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan won a major award at North Sea Jazz and has been named International Artist of the Year 2021 in Germany. Having returned to Armenia from the United States, he ingeniously blends traditional music from his birth country into his compositions and improvisations. For The Bird of a Thousand Voices, he worked with Ruben van Leer, known for his beautiful, ground-breaking multimedia projects, and with visual artist Boris Acket handling audio-visual stage design. With Hamasyan’s brand-new piano music, the angelic singing voice of Areni Agbabian and an interactive light installation, they bring the myth preoccupying Hamasyan since childhood to life.

The mythological bird appears in many different cultures and often symbolises resurrection and awakening. In the Armenian tradition, its power is in its song. In order to find the Bird of a Thousand Voices, "the path of no return" must first be taken through black, white and red worlds with endless deserts, cold mountain winters, turbulent rivers and hunted by condemnations, betrayal and forty-headed demons...

‘This story tells me that, if we wish to change the world, we all will need to change individually. This typically Armenian tale was lesser known for ages, but I feel it’s time to present this particular story, with its universal message of spiritual awakening, to the world.’

- Tigran Hamasyan

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credits

music Tigran Hamasyan direction Ruben Van Leer with the support of The Creative Industries Fund NL, Mondriaan Fund, Hovnanian Foundation, Amsterdam Fund for the Arts additional text Florian Hellwig text Hazaran Blbul Serine coproduction Truth.io illustrations Khoren Matevosyan wig and make-up artist Magdalena Loza photography Alex Avgud audio visual design Wes Broersen costume design Annemarije van Harten lighting designer Tom Visser drums Matt Garstka dramaturgy Florian Hellwig bass Marc Karapetian keyboards Yessaï Karapetian vocals Areni Agbabian scenography Boris Acket piano Tigran Hamasyan creative engineer Merijn Versnel

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