Absent Suites

Absent Suites is a Pierre Rigal's variation and a mechanical piano playing on its own and independently a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. This setup is a distinctive way of carrying a thought towards the pianist, (...)

Absent Suites

Absent Suites is a Pierre Rigal’s variation and a mechanical piano playing on its own and independently a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. This setup is a distinctive way of carrying a thought towards the pianist, and by extension to-wards the composer, who by definition do not take part in this event.
This absence becomes the imaginary and subjective base to a narration dedicated to music and its way of completely filling the life of men. This subjectivity also reveals little by little the secrets of this mysterious character, alone with a piano.

On stage, a grand piano greets the audience who takes a seat inside the theatre. A man comes out from the wings. For a few moments he faces the object who also seems to be looking at him. The man dressed in a black tailcoat suit, turns towards the audience and salutes. Then he walks towards the piano. He sits on the stool and concentrates for a few seconds. He lifts and suspends his arms, his hands are above the keyboard. But before his fingers hit their target, the piano starts to play by itself. The black and white keys sink on their own, the hammers hit the strings. The piano plays alone a suite by Johann-Sebastian Bach.

Pierre Rigal / 28th April 2017.

Musique : Jean-Sébastien Bach performed by François Dumont pour un piano Yamaha Disklavier.
Creation on 25 septembre 2017 at Saint Pierre des Cuisines in Toulouse / Piano aux Jacobins Festival international

Production compagnie dernière minute / Piano aux Jacobins
avec le soutien de Yamaha Musique Europe
La compagnie dernière minute est subventionnée au titre de l’aide au conventionnement par le Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication / Préfecture de la Région Occitanie, la Région Occitanie et la Ville de Toulouse.

Conception, performance Pierre Rigal
On a Paul-Arnaud Péjouan initiative
Artistic collboration Mélanie Chartreux
Video and lighing Frédéric Stoll
Production Sophie Schneider assisted by Nathalie Vautrin

Photo-credit : Jean-Philippe Moulet

18
performances
since 25 september 2017

 

Diary