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Rivers are particularly complex and dynamic systems: in infinite interactions, they shape the land they flow through and are shaped by it. They shape human visions, fears and needs and are shaped by them. Rivers are also incredibly powerful metaphors and spiritual forces, valuable and coveted economic assets, witnesses and bearers of history. Which stories and histories do these rivers carry with them? What can we learn from them? What opens up by being attentive to their sounds?
In this work, Argentine artist Nahuel Cano researches the history and meaning of rivers: the Limay and Salado in his native country and the Vecht in the Netherlands, his new home. Cano extensively researched the history of each river and the ecological developments surrounding them, and added his personal stories connected to them. He translated his research into music and poems, and then built an audiovisual performance in collaboration with filmmaker Juan Fernández Gebauer and Ensemble Modelo62. Ways to listen to a river is a “performative concert”: it consists of live music, video projection, spoken word and actions on stage.
concept, composition, performance Nahuel Cano
film artist Juan Fernandez Gebauer
Ensemble Modelo62: Ezequiel Menalled (electronics), Jan Willem Troost (cello), Klára Andrlová (percussion), Enric Sans I Morera (bass clarinet)
Soundmix Clare Gallagher
Final direction, advice Anouke de Groot
Vocal coaching Claudia Cano
Composition advice Ezequiel Menalled
Text advice Flor Braier Kantor
Technical production/Light design Pablo Fontdevila
Color grading ‘Vecht’ Maren Henke
Developed with the support of Het Huis Utrecht, WP Zimmer, C-Takt, Camargo Foundation Fellowship, HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste, Residenties in Utrecht, Provincie Utrecht, Buitenplaats Doornburgh, Gaudeamus Festival, Stichting SBI / Landgoed Zonheuvel, Estudio ElCuarto.
Informants and sources in the research:
‘Vecht‘: Regionaal Historisch Centrum Vecht en Venen, Suzanne Lekkerkerker; Nancy Jouwe; Visit Gooi en Vecht, Mariette Zivkovic; Waternet, Fred de Haan; Samantha Hassink-Burbidge; Holland Waterlinie, Heleen de Boer; Universiteit Utrecht; Lek-Art, Rosita Setz, Robert-Jan Hofhuis; R.C. Boxer “The Dutch Seaborne Empire”, Johannes Postma “The Dutch in the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1600–1815”
‘Limay’ & ‘Salado‘: Susana Lara, Gustavo Figueroa, Javier Grosso, Liliana Ancalao, Irina Podgorny, Argentinian Congress Library en National Archives; RTA Archives, Josefina Perez Rial, Florentino Ameghino “Plan Maestro Integral Cuenca del Río Salado”; Informe de sequía SMN – INTA Ministry of agriculture; Cano Eyres family, friends and anonymous sources.
Ways to listen to a river – ‘Vecht’ is onderdeel van een pilotproject dat in opdracht van de provincie Utrecht door Residenties in Utrecht wordt uitgevoerd. Deze residentie is ontstaan vanuit de wens van de provincie Ut3recht om aan urgente thema’s, zoals klimaatadaptie en het stimuleren van recreatie, te werken door middel van creatieve verbeeldingskracht en innovatief ondernemerschap. Dit project komt tot stand dankzij de samenwerking met Buitenplaats Doornburgh, Gaudeamus Festival, Stichting SBI / Landgoed Zonheuvel.
Performances:
2024
– Spring Festival – Theater Kikker (Utrecht, NL)
– Festival Batard – Beursschouwburg (Brussels, BE)
2023
– Buitenplaats Doornburgh (Maarssen, NL)
pablo fontdevila 