The valley (an apocalypse)

[sax] + Eric Sleichim + Hans Op de Beeck + Claron McFadden + Lore Binon + Dirk Roofthooft

A man is standing in the middle of a small arena. He tells us his incredible life-story. He is surrounded by musicians who underpin, colour and comment on his tragic narrative. Amongst them is a mysterious woman. Is she a guardian angel, his conscience, his supposedly lost daughter?

The soprano Claron McFadden (in alternation with Lore Binon) and actor Dirk Roofthooft are flanked by the BL!NDMAN saxophone quartet in this partly narrated, partly sung story that is musically inspired by the 15th-century Missa Gaudeamus by Josquin des Prez. For this production, the artist Hans Op de Beeck and composer Eric Sleichim are collaborating for the first time. The valley (an apocalypse) deals with the daily banality of violence and how grand cataclysmic events are played out on the most intimate and personal level.

Eric Sleichim and Hans Op de Beeck: concept
Eric Sleichim: composition, sounddesign, programme Decap-accordeon
Hans Op de Beeck: text, stage direction, set and costumes
Tobias Kokkelmans: dramaturgy

BL!NDMAN [sax]
Koen Maas
Pieter Pellens
Piet Rebel
Raf Minten

Claron McFadden or Lore Binon: vocals
Dirk Roofthooft: actor

Muziektheater Transparant: production
deSingel, Zeeland Nazomerfestival, BL!NDMAN, TANDEM scène nationale en Romaeuropa Festival: coproduction
With the support of Tax shelter from the Federal Government Belgium