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Performance:
[ LIVE / DJ SET ]
Label:
WARP
Links:
VIDEO
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Mira Calix composes and produces music. She is
signed to Warp Records, on which she has released five albums, the most
recent being 3 commissions: the elephant in the room, the follow up to
2005’s 3 commissions She began her musical adventure by djing,
performing at club nights, and as support on several tours, playing
with a diverse selection of artists from Radiohead to Squarepusher.
Early
in 2004 Mira was commissioned to write a site-specific piece of music
for an installation in the conservatory of the Barbican in London for
the re-opening of the Gallery. In September of that year, this piece
was released along with Nunu; a collaboration with the London
Sinfonietta, and some willing insects. (3 commissions LP) Nunu
Premiered at the Royal Festival Hall and subsequently toured Europe
extensively including performances at the Concertgebouw, Parca Della
Musica and the Mariinsky Concert Hall in Moscow.
In
2005, Mira Calix formed a new ensemble called Alexander’s Annexe with
pianist Sarah Nicholls and David Sheppard. Their live debut was at the
Ravello Festival, followed by concerts at Transmediale, Sonar and
Koko’s in London. The ensemble released Push Door To Exit, an EP on
Warp Records, in late 2006. She regularly performs and collaborates
with cellist Oliver Coates; most recently on an installation piece,
Natures, with video artist Quayola commissioned by the Faster Than
Sound Festival.
As
well as performing and recording her own solo material, Mira has
created several installations, film soundtracks and pieces for dance
and theatre. Her many recent works include, the setting of one of
Shakespeare’s Sonnets commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and
the soundtrack to Onibus, a documentary directed by Augusto Contento.
In
2007 she completed a very modern opera; Elephant And Castle, in
partnership with composer Tansy Davies, with a libretto by Blake
Morrison and directed by Tim Hopkins for the Aldeburgh Festival. Later
that year Opera North commissioned her to compose the soundtrack to
renowned puppeteers; Faulty Optic’s take on Monteverdi’s Orpheu for the
Manchester International Festival. The production, titled; Dead
Wedding, went on to the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, The
Sage and a successful week’s run at the Barbican.
In
autumn 2008 Mira created a new a surround mix of Nunu featuring the
London Sinfonietta for a SACD; Recovery to Discovery released by the
BMIC. The album includes rare work by Jonathan Harvey, Harrison
Birtwhistle and Jose Alvarez. She also performed two new pieces with
the London Sinfonietta, including her Sinfonietta Short; Ort-Oard.
December
2008 saw the premiere of My Secret Heart, her collaboration with
British video artists Flate-E and sound designer David Sheppard. The
piece features a 100 strong choir, cellist Oliver Coates, and viola
player Xandi Van Dijk. My Secret Heart, commissioned by Streetwise
Opera, received a Royal Philharmonic Society Award and continues its
worldwide tour in 09/10.
Early
in 2009 she created the soundtrack to Chorus, an installation by United
Visual Artists, commissioned by Opera North to celebrate the opening of
the Howard Assembly Rooms in Leeds. The piece, comprising of 8 swinging
pendulums, will be situatated in Durham Cathedral during November 2009.
Mira Calix has recently collaborated with Scottish singer-songwriter
Malcolm Middleton (ex Arab Strap) for a Late Junction session on BBC
radio 3. The pair are currently working on new material.
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