The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music and The Current Present POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e: Music for the Long Emergency

On Friday, November 18, 2016 at 8:00pm at The Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series and The Current present POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e: Music for the Long Emergency, the culmination of Liquid Music's first Virtual Residency. Throughout the 2015.16 season Liquid Music tracked the artistic collision of two innovative ensembles: Berlin's vibrant and forward-thinking s t a r g a z e and hometown favoritesPOLIÇA, internationally renowned for their "dark conviction" (Pitchfork) and "beautifully melancholic" (The Guardian) sound. Dubbed a "renegade new classical ensemble" (Boiler Room), s t a r g a z e was founded by prominent European conductor André de Ridder and has become known for its focus on collaboration, specifically with artists and ensembles who work with dissimilar musical language and materials. This unparalleled transatlantic partnership culminates with a world premiere performance at the historic Fitzgerald Theater, copresented by The Current, marking s t a r g a z e's U.S. debut.

Liquid Music Curator, Kate Nordstrum speaks to the excitement and risk of bringing together two ensembles from across the world: "I feel privileged to have played matchmaker to these two incredible groups, who are creatively and spiritually so compatible. As collaborators, POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e have found a common musical language that allows them both to share equally in the process of creating new work together. My job was of course the easy part. The terrific challenge for the musicians has been collaborating primarily virtually, with a few visits between now and fall 2016. The inherent risk lit a fire under us all."

Rising to the challenge of crafting music from across continents, POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e have created a vital new collaborative work. Drew Christopherson, one of POLIÇA 's drummers speaks of the special creative spark between the two disparate groups, reflecting that working with s t a r g a z e "might have been the most thrilling experience I've had making music." Named Music for the Long Emergency, this world premiere collaboration plays on themes from James Howard Kunstler's book, The Long Emergency, which investigates the long-term social consequences of oil scarcity and climate change.

Both groups are excited to reveal Music for the Long Emergency as part of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series at the Fitzgerald Theater. "Liquid Music has become synonymous with presenting the avant-garde of contemporary music's collaborative practices evolving in the 21st century," says conductor André de Ridder of s t a r g a z e. "I've been following their pioneering programming from Europe, long before I got involved personally. What's so special about the series though is that it's not just about concerts but about initiating new projects, fostering relationships and facilitating the process of creating new music that wouldn't otherwise have been made and heard. It's the breeding ground of a new scene, as well as its showcase!"

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