Rc4 Contemporary Classical Music and Technology Festival in Rio

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Exploring new directions in classical musical and the use of electronics, software, and visuals during performances, the 2016 edition of the Rc4 Festival began on January 8th and will continue through January 31st. Featuring an ongoing installation, five upcoming live performances, and debates and a party on January 23rd, this is the second edition of the festival and the first time the festival is being held in Oi Futuro Ipanema.

The opening of the Computer Orchestra installation on January 8th marked the beginning of this edition of the Rc4 festival. Occupying one of Oi Futuro Ipanema’s galleries, the installation will remain open through January 31st. Featuring multiple computers, each representing an instrument or sound, the installation allows attendees to become the conductor of the computer orchestra through the movement of their bodies.

To kick off the performances, virtuoso pianist Kai Schumacher will play live on January 15th. Schumacher is known for mixing contemporary classical music with techno, rock, found sound, samples, jazz, acoustic piano, toy piano and other electronics.

During the show on the 15th, Schumacher will perform works from his album Transcription. Praised for his reinterpretations of works by Muse, System of a Down, Portishead, Megadeth, Rage Against the Machine, and Nirvana, among others, Schumacher is also known to include light installations and video projections in his performances.

On January 16th the PianOrquestra will perform with Bryan Holmes. The Brazilian experimental instrumental group consists of ten hands playing one prepared piano.

The ten hands of PianOrquestra belong to musical director Claudío Dauelsberg, percussionist Mako Tanaka, and pianists Marina Spoladore, Priscilla Azevedo and Anne Amberget and during performances, members are known to use drumsticks, guitar picks and other objects to explore the tones and the percussive elements of the piano. Sometimes with two sets of hands on the keys with two more playing on the instrument`s strings and another set beating the piano`s body like a drum, they turn the instrument into an orchestra unto itself. They are also known to integrate electronic equipment and visual elements during performances.

On January 22nd, British percussionist Joby Burgess will perform. Burgess is a member of the multimedia collective Powerplant and is known for his symphonic, contemporary percussion performances accompanied projected scripted visuals. He has previously worked with Ensemble, New Noise, and Uncharted and has toured with Peter Gabriel.

On January 23rd the festival will present the Paniel Rc4 which will feature special guests, Merlijn Twaalfhoven, Stephane Dorin, Jennifer Dautermann, Brendan Walsh, and Robert Zimmermann hosting five free entry debates and discussions from 6PM to 9PM.

Following the debates on the 23rd, the festival will host the party/jam session Festa Tecnoclássica with live performances on both traditional and electronic instruments combined with DJ sets and projected visuals.

Brazilian percussionist Sérgio Krakowski will perform live on January 29th. Karakowski is internationally known for his innovative uses of the pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine) and for combining his performances with electronics for immersive experiences. His has presented workshops in New York, Paris, London and Berlin and has peformed in the Guggenheim de Bilbao in Spain and the Galerie 59 in Paris.

Finally to close out the festival American composer, pianist and keyboardist Missy Mazzoli will perform live accompanied by Austrian violinist Olivia de Prato. Receiving widespread praise from the LA Times, The New Times and Opera News, among others, Mazzoli is one of the biggest up-and-coming composers in the contemporary music scene.

For more information about the Rc4 Festival, this edition’s performers and programming, see the official website.

What: Festival Rc4
When: January 8th – January 31st, shows and party will begin at 9PM
Where: Teatro Oi Futuro Ipanema, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 54 – Ipanema
Entrance: FREE for installation and debates, shows R$10 – R$20