TEXTUR 2026 - Polia potente

Description

The "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili," printed in Venice in 1499 by Aldus Manutius, is one of the most enigmatic books of the 15th century – a visionary novel of extraordinary narrative and visual power, and a milestone in book history. The story follows Poliphilo on a symbolic love journey through a dream within a dream, in search of the nymph Polia. The labyrinthine structure, the overflowing abundance of natural history and architectural details, as well as the famous perspective woodcuts – revolutionary for their time – create an almost psychedelic visual world. At the same time, the work raises surprisingly modern questions for its era: presumably written by the Dominican friar Francesco Colonna, it combines pagan mythology, sensuality, and spiritual allegory. The figure of Polia, initially a silent projection surface of male desire, gains her own voice over the course of the story and opens a space for reflection on female self-determination. The project Polia Potente translates this story into a musical-theatrical form, combining sound, text, and image. The music of the program – which plays a central role in the novel itself – draws on the earliest Venetian music prints, especially Ottaviano Petrucci's Frottola collections (1501–1504). This secular polyphonic genre, a precursor to the madrigal, functions here as an emotional and dramaturgical commentary on the story. The repertoire is complemented by works from composers like Alexander Agricola, whose intricate polyphony makes the finesse of early instrumental music around 1500 audible. Artemis Consort interprets this concept as the Artemis Consort, consisting of four female musicians specialized in Renaissance music, who met at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis: Emma-Lisa Roux (lute, soprano), Liane Sadler (Renaissance flute), Maya Webne-Behrman (Renaissance violin and Viola d’Arco), and Carolin Margraf (Renaissance harp, director). In collaboration with video artist Silvia Fabiani, an immersive stage space is created from light, projection, and movement. Visual and acoustic layers merge into a shared narrative stream, allowing the audience to immerse themselves directly in Poliphilo's dream world. EarlyBird promotion valid until September 20, 2026 Participating artists: Ensemble Artemis Consort / Silvia Fabiani