Challenging conventional ideas of vocal performance: Contemporary Vocal Sünds from Eleanor Westbrook & Oskar McCarthy

Two contemporary singers are joining forces to present a recital of experimental vocal music. Eleanor Westbrook and Oskar McCarthy, along with pianist Ben Smith are presenting Contemporary Vocal Sünds at The Uplands, St Leonards-on-Sea (20 July) and Lauderdale House, Highgate (22 July) with playful and radical approach to voice in works from the 20th and 21st century, challenging conventional ideas of vocal performance.

The recital features composers such as John Cage, Iannis Xenakis and Georges Aperghis, alongside pieces by Errollyn Wallen, Judith Weir, Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Liz Dilnot Johnson, plus the premiere of an electronic reworking of Jean-Philippe Rameau by Nico Bentley. 

Eleanor Westbrook is an interdisciplinary performer working at the intersection of opera, physical theatre, clowning, and experimental music. She is artistic director of TUFT, producing large-scale performance events in Hastings Castle and Caves, and is currently developing a multidisciplinary production of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. Oskar McCarthy has premiered operas by Avner Dorman, Robert Reid Allan and Bertie Baigent, and commissioned new work including Laura Bowler’s Lines, Letters and Disinformation for baritone and tape, performed at Snape Maltings and Café OTO. A VOICEBOX alumnus [see my article], he trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and recently worked with the Royal Opera House’s Opera Lab, part of the Jette Parker Programme.

Further information about the St Leonards-on-Sea performance, and the Lauderdale House performance.