The musicians of the Ictus ensemble invite children and their parents to a fantastic voyage into the heart of the Lille Opera. With three short but varied and contrasted concerts, they present works that explore different facets of modern music. The discovery doesn’t stop there, however, because each musical interlude is preceded by a practice workshop that helps the public become more familiar with the universe of each composer.
With Music for Pieces of Wood by Steve Reich, five musicians equipped with small claves develop a fascinating, sophisticated rhythmic construction that transports the listener to a full-tilt swing. The universe of piano works from the American composer Henry Cowell is radically different: it transforms the piano into a harp or a carillon and draws out of this enchanted instrument the vigorous folk melodies of the American Old West. The voyage concludes with Stockhausen, who places two harpists face to face to weave music as melodious as it is choreographic, in complete serenity and simplicity. A few notes appear to be missing, so the harpists begin to sing in soft voices, as if bathed  in the perfumed light of some impalpable paradise.

Contemporary music will have no more secrets for young ears after this musical adventure lasting a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

With

Les musiciens d’Ictus, ensemble in résidency at Lille Opera :
Annie Lavoisier & Maria José Jeannin Lopez harps
Jean-Luc Fafchamps piano
Gerrit Nulens, Miquel Bernat, Géry Cambier, Georges-Elie Octors drums 
(cast to be completed)

Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007) Freude pour 2 harpes (extraits)
Steve Reich (né en 1936) Music for Pieces of Wood
Henry Cowell (1897-1965) Pièces courtes pour piano solo