Description
VIR was a gender‑expansive, experimental music concert curated and directed by Maria Sappho, exploring the charged histories and shifting meanings of the Latin prefix vir—as found in words like virago, virility, virtuosity, virulent, and virtue. Through this linguistic lens, the programme interrogated how gendered language shapes perceptions of power, creativity, morality, and artistic value.The performance featured a distinguished ensemble of improvisers and contemporary music specialists:
Anna Michels (piano), Una MacGlone (double bass), Jessica Argo (cello), Semay Wu (cello), Elena Inei (violin), Clíona Cassidy (voice), Ceylan Hay (voice and objects), Emily Doolittle (oboe and objects), and Maria Sappho (piano, harp).
At its core were world premieres by five international composers: Yasuko Kaneko (Japan), Negin Zomorodi (Iran), Afulodidim Nikefolosi (Zambia), Alessia Anastassopulos (Italy), and Cléa Chopard (Switzerland). These new works—spanning experimental chamber music, free improvisation, and interdisciplinary performance—were interwoven with improvisatory responses, creating a dialogue between score and spontaneity.
The VIR concert created a vibrant and critical space for listening, questioning, and reimagining what virtuosity, value, and artistic lineage might mean in a more inclusive and decolonised musical future.
| Period | 12 Apr 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Exhibition |
| Location | Glasgow, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | National |