Lift to Dubai by Vykintas Baltakas
Lift to Dubai (2009) for ensemble and electronics was premiered in 2009 by Ensemble Modern and conductor Franck Ollu in Konzerthaus Berlin.
The Ensemble Modern and Siemens Arts Program, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, developed an ambitious, attractive and exotic international project into…, which attempts to cast the essence of a city in music. Sixteen composers agreed to face this challenge in four mega cities of non-Western culture: Istanbul (Turkey), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Johannesburg (Republic of South Africa) and Pearl River Delta (China). Starting from February 2008 to May 2009, groups of four composers spent a month in each of these mega cities to compose musical reflections of the cities for the Ensemble Modern. Vykintas Baltakas composed a reflection of Dubai. When speaking of Dubai’s sonosphere and musical environment, Baltakas highlights the fact that in Dubai there is the largest number of construction cranes in the world, which affects the overall sonic atmosphere. In addition to that, the musical environment is vibrant with emigrant ethnic traditions. On the other hand, the bar culture and music is nearly non-existent. Moreover, music is not highly regarded, since poetry is considered to be the highest form of art here. “The key role here is played by the aural impressions of the city and their impact. Some composers are drawn to the architectural aspect; others are interested in the local influences. I think Dubai is a multicultural, super modern, electronic metropolis and I will not even try to look here for an old Arabic tradition. The Arabian culture existing within this context is slightly distorted. But that is nonetheless interesting.” (Asta Pakarklytė, Lithuanian Music Link No. 16, 2008)
the Concert will also include Compositions by Bushra Al Turk, Amr Okba, Ahmed Madkor and Giacinto Scelsi