Ictus & Jean Paul van Bendegem: 'Ballet Mécanique'

BALLET FOR SIRENS AND AIRPLANE PROPELLERS

In the spirit of Dadaism, Antheil’s scandalous futuristic composition Ballet Mécanique will be part of a happening. Ictus combines ‘mechanical’ music from the 20th century with a lecture about music, maths and science by philosopher Jean-Paul Van Bendegem.

As a ‘prelude’ György Ligeti will get the foyer ticking with his cunningly titled Poème Symphonique a work for 100 metronomes. The main part of the programme is Ballet Mécanique, an ode to the dynamic of a big city. Antheil’s composition for player pianos, percussion, sirens and airplane propellers was originally intended for a film by Fernand Léger, which is projected as a visual counterpart.