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Work of the Week – Gerald Barry: What the Webb Telescope Sees
- 14 Nov 2022
Among the stars: Gerald Barry, Composer in residence at Theater Magdeburg, explores the unknown infinity of space in his latest orchestral work. What the Webb Telescope Sees is going to be premiered on the 17th of November in the Theater Magdeburg. The Magdeburgische Philharmonie is playing under the baton of Anna Skryleva.
As a collaborative project between the space agencies NASA USA), ESA (Europa) und CSA (Kanada) built the James Webb Space Telescope. Since December 25th it has been floating in space. This new instance is part of a series of space telescopes with which humankind tried to protrude into the depths of the universe. The search for potentially habitable exoplanets, investigating the emergence of stars, galaxies and black holes: Evermore we come closer to answering the universe’s questions.
Infinite widths
Gerald Barry: What the Webb Telescope Sees
These questions concern Barry as well. In his orchestra piece What the Webb Telescope Sees he paints a musical picture of humankind’s advancing into the widths of space. Beginning in the low registers, the music climbs higher and higher, exploring the vast reaches of the unknown. That way he projects pictures in the inner eye of the listener.
As a child I had no one to communicate with except my own imagination. I’ve lived my whole life in a sort of altered state, almost as if things were painted too brightly. My music is true to my body in that sense. The way I am isn’t something you set out to be; it’s just the way it goes. - Gerald Barry
In the same concert another piece by Barry is going to be performed. From The Intelligence Park is a rearrangement for chamber orchestra of parts of his 1988 opera of the same name. The same program is going to be performed on the 18th of November. Additionally as part of his residency, his opera Alice’s Adventures Under Ground is being performed May 6th 2023.
Info Box:
Alice's Adventures Under Ground
Photo: NASA
