SOLOS IV: LOTTE

'Four White Walls' is an intimate film-recital delving into the inner language and emotional landscape of solitude; of searching for and finding the calmness and joy of being alone with oneself, yet also of yearning for the outside world and mourning lost connections.  The programme weaves its way through time exploring western repertoire for solo voice and multi-tracked choral works, from Hildegard von Bingen and Claude Debussy to contemporary works by British composer Tansy Davies and Australian composers Brett Dean, Andrew Ford and Alice Chance, via the work of 20th century American composer-pioneer Morton Feldman.

As a concert and opera singer, I rarely have the opportunity to present unaccompanied repertoire - the past 18 months has given me time not only to look into solo voice music, but also to create layered recordings using one voice.  This film, a combination of music, imagery and words, is a testament to the voice as a solo instrument; but also, to the challenging, turbulent, still and oddly beautiful experience of being in isolation within four white walls.”

⁃ Artist Statement, words by Lotte Betts-Dean

MUSICAL PROGRAMME

Claude Debussy: Il était une fée (1899)

Hildegard Von Bingen: O viridissima virga (12th century)

Brett Dean: To Look Yet Not Find & Four White Walls from Tracks and Traces (2002)

Tansy Davies: Beloved Friend & Secret Wishes from Troubairitz (2011)

Alice Chance: And the Lord said Fiat Lux (2017)

Andrew Ford: Between Birds & dark cloud from Red Dirt Hymns (2020)

Morton Feldman: Only (1947)

Anon Scottish: In A Garden So Green

This project is generously supported by the Nicholas Boas Trust.