UCCA Beijing

UCCA Music and Contemporary Art Workshop

2015.6.21 - 2015.6.23
13:30-18:00

Workshops
Location:  798 Live House

For one of the key public events surrounding the UCCA exhibition “William Kentridge: Notes Towards a Model Opera,” renowned South African composer Philip Miller will host a three-day series of musical workshops, inviting the public to view the rehearsals for the Chinese debut of Miller’s new composition, Pulling Numbers.

Pulling Numbers is inspired by Dahuahui (also known as Jiuhuahui), a gambling game from China’s Chaoshan region. Players choose from 36 numbers, each with its own significance that determines the victor. In the nineteenth century, Chinese immigrants brought the game to South Africa, where it has become a popular folk pastime. Miller’s piece brings Dahuahui back to China as an audiovisual performance, connecting the two countries in a manner that echoes Kentridge’s recent works concerning China.

Philip Miller is a longtime collaborator of William Kentridge, composing the music for The Refusal of Time, Black Box/Chambre Noire, and other pieces. His compositions combine classical and contemporary genres with elements from South African folk music. The China debut of Pulling Numbers is performed by South African singer Ann Masina along with several Chinese musicians.

Performers

Philip Miller(Composer)

Philip Miller is a South African composer and sound artist. His world-renowned work brings together many different mediums, from live performance to film, video, and sound installation. He is a longtime collaborator of William Kentridge, composing music for many of the artist’s films and multimedia installations. Miller’s sound artworks have been shown in the Venice Biennale (2013), Spier Contemporary (2011), and Kaunas Biennial (2009). Miller was previously nominated for an Emmy Award, and he is currently an honorary fellow at the Archive and Public Culture Research Initiative at the University of Cape Town.

Ann Masina(Soprano)

Ann Masina began as a soloist for the Africa Sings Choral Society in 1994. In 1999, she joined the Nico Malan Opera House, now the Cape Town Opera, where she performed to great acclaim in works such as Carmen and Aida. She participated in the 46664 Concert at Hyde Park in London, where she performed for former South African President Nelson Mandela. Since 2012, she has worked with William Kentridge on a number of works, including The Refusal of Time. Masina’s versatile talent allows her to perform in a wide range of musical genres, including opera, classical, gospel, jazz, and pop.

Chinese Musicians