IN SHORT ⟶ Inspired by Beckett and Cage’s artistic explorations, Speaking Cables is a composition involving voice, sound, and sound equipment interacting dynamically, crafting an acoustic choreography that, while constantly evolving, remains responsive to the ambient environment.
Speaking Cables is a “site-responsive” acoustic performance for voice, cables and speakers conceived by sound artist and musician Agnese Banti. By combining constantly evolving compositional cells and strategically situating them in space, the work facilitates a range of scenic and dramaturgical possibilities.
Speaking Cables brings the voice onto the stage to question it as something other than itself, constructing and deconstructing space through diffused sound with a path that blends ritualistic and playful elements. Inspired by Beckett and Cage, the compositional exploration alternates monologues, polyvocality, dialogues, and silences through a choreography that combines sound art experiences with the idea of loudspeakers as presences to engage with.
Agnese Delia Banti is a sound artist, musician and overtone singer based in Bologna. She has been working for several years with various organisations and personalities active in sound and performing experimentation. Her artistic activity revolves around space composition, choral voice, soundscape studies, the gesture-sound relationship, folk music repertoire and the collaborative dimension of the creative process. She graduated from the Conservatorio di Musica di Bologna and Corfù University with an installation project on frogs’ voice and ancient ruins. She then started working with Tempo Reale, a centre for music production, research and education in Florence founded by Luciano Berio. She has been collaborating for several years to overtone singing projects with composer Roberto Laneri and has recently attended the Malagola School of Vocality and Research Centre on the Voice located in Ravenna.
by and with Agnese Banti
live electronics Andrea Trona
artistic project, musical composition and direction Agnese Banti
artistic and technical collaboration, musical informatics Andrea Trona
dramaturgy and direction collaboration Marta Vitalini
sound direction Agnese Banti, Andrea Trona
technical consultation and lights Antonio Rinaldi
thanks to the organisational collaboration of Alice Diodovich and to the artisti encounters curated by FONDO with Yan Duyvendak, Camille Louis, Ana Pi
supported by FONDO – Network for emerging creativity developed by Santarcangelo dei Teatri with AMAT, Centrale Fies, ERT – Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione, Fabbrica Europa, I Teatri di Reggio Emilia, L’arboreto – Teatro Dimora | Centro di residenza Emilia Romagna, Operaestate Festival Veneto – CSC Centro per la Scena Contemporanea, Ravenna Teatro, Teatro Pubblico Campano, Teatro Pubblico Pugliese, TSU Teatro Stabile dell’Umbria, Triennale Milano
with the support of Insieme Siamo Arte 2024 by Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale and ATCL
realised with Otto per Mille funds from the Chiesa Valdese
ph. Monia Pavoni