shy and wild is love

Set against the extraordinary architecture and acoustics of the KIT, surrounded by photographs by Laurenz Berges, asphalt 2026 presents a unique gathering of leading performers of contemporary music: the Arditti Quartet, soprano Christina Daletska and harpist Consuelo Giulianelli will perform works by Jonathan Harvey, Zeynep Gedizlioglu, Iannis Xenakis and Heinz Hollinger. The centrepiece of the concert evening is »Chammawet Ahawah«, a cantata by Daniel Glaus based on the Hebrew »Shir Hashirim«, which brings together the most intimate and poetic love songs of antiquity. The musicians combine artistic mastery with contemporary relevance.
The Arditti Quartet enjoys an outstanding international reputation for its lively and nuanced interpretation of contemporary and 20th-century compositions. Since its founding in 1974 by the violinist Irvine Arditti, several hundred works have been composed for the ensemble. Many of these works have become indispensable to the repertoire of contemporary music and secure the Arditti Quartet a firm place in music history. It is regarded as one of the most important string quartets for new music.

The Ukrainian opera and concert singer Christina Daletska performs works of the 20th and 21st centuries in particular with extraordinary enthusiasm and is regarded as an outstanding singer of her generation. Daletska’s vocal range spans more than three octaves and her repertoire covers five centuries. The soprano is also a human rights activist and an official ambassador for Amnesty International Switzerland.

Consuelo Giulianelli is an honorary member of »Swiss Harp« and principal harpist of the Basel Chamber Orchestra. The Italian-Swiss musician has performed as a soloist with countless orchestras, including the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, the Basel Symphony Orchestra and the Verona Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a member of Ensemble Phoenix Basel, which was awarded the Pro Europa Prize for contemporary music.

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What the press say:

»The Arditti Quartet explores the boundaries of sound.«
European News Agency

»Christina Daletska is a phenomenal soprano who is able to imbue every word with meaning, power and personality.«
Tages-Anzeiger Switzerland

»This feverishness of sound, this warm vibration (…) is fascinating.«
Pizzicato on Consuelo Giulianelli

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