Secret Kiss

Following on from Senza sangue, Peter Eötvös has once again taken his inspiration from the Italian author Alessandro Baricco, whose acclaimed 1997 novel Silk provides the plot for this seventeen-minute chamber music scene. We are transported back to the 19th century, where a young Frenchman travels to Japan to learn about the secrets of silk production. While visiting a rich man, he observes a young girl with her eyes closed. She suddenly opens her eyes, looks at the Frenchman and points silently to a tea cup in front of her. This is the beginning of a moving, sensitive and wonderful story – out of a single glance, a tender yet binding connection between the two young individuals emerges.

The spoken text is accompanied by flute, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion, creating a unique atmosphere.