The Calidore String Quartet joins flutist and composer Nathalie Joachim in a special performance of Joachim’s Fanm d’Ayiti (Women of Haiti). This innovative work for voice, flute, string quartet and electronics celebrates some of Haiti’s under recognized female artists. Described by the New York Times as a cycle of “delicately entrancing songs… led by Joachim’s powerful and unpretentious voice,” the project features original songs that incorporate the recorded voices of Joachim’s grandmother and the girls’ choir of her family’s farming village of Dantan. The concert experience also includes new arrangements of music by great female voices in Haitian history and interviews recorded with these artists about their lives. The New Yorker called the Grammy-nominated Fanm d’Ayiti the most joyous chamber music album released in 2019.
New Music Gathering is an annual three-day conference dedicated to the performance, production, promotion, support and creation of new concert music. This year, Nathalie is very honored to have been chosen as the conference’s keynote speaker, on the theme of local action. Additionally, Flutronix will give a headlining performance, including new pieces from their latest evening length work, Discourse. Visit ticket link for full schedule and more information.
A celebration of iconic yet under-recognized Haitian female artists, Fanm d’Ayiti (“Women of Haiti”) is an evening-length work for voice, flute, string quartet and electronics developed by composer/performer Nathalie Joachim and featuring Chicago’s own Spektral Quartet.
Equal parts an encounter with Joachim’s Haitian heritage and an effort to give voice to marginalized artists, Fanm d’Ayiti is iridescent in its exhibition of powerful women – in revolution, on stage, or in the home. From the deeply personal – including recorded voices of Joachim’s grandmother and the girls’ choir from her family’s farming village of Dantan – to the inspiringly prominent – featuring arrangements of songs by some of the greatest known female voices in Haitian history and recorded interviews with them about their fight for social justice – Fanm d’Ayiti is an uplifting and thought-provoking sonic experience.
Beginning at 6:00PM, Mix at Six is the series the Chicago Tribune says “ups the cultural ante considerably,” featuring high-energy, relaxed, fast-paced programs after work and opportunities for audiences to engage with featured performers. Drink specials and food will be available for purchase from HT concessions and pop-up food vendors. All Mix at Six performances are about 60–75 minutes in length.