Loudspeaker Baptism
Chamber opera in 4 acts, 60', 2024
For soprano, accordion, Genelec 8020D, puppeteer and electronics.
Chamber opera in 4 acts for soprano, accordion, Genelec 8020D, puppeteer and electronics.
Created by Charles Quevillon with Sawtooth Duo (Sarah Albu and Matti Pulkki)
Composition and Stage Direction: Charles Quevillon
Lights: Erno Seppälä
Stage: Erno Seppälä and Charles Quevillon
Video graphics: Jan Rosström
Libretto: Charles Quevillon with inspiration from Eino Leino and Genelec user manual.
Editing: Maija Tammi
Performed by: Sarah Albu (soprano), Matti Pulkki (accordion) and Charles Quevillon (puppeteer and electronics)
Photograph by Maija Tammi
Kaiutin Kaste aims to crack open the mundane perception of a loudspeaker as a mere commodity and activate its latent archetypal and mystical meanings. Through a playful yet earnest approach, this opera connects the capitalist and technological framework of a loudspeaker with religious and spiritual symbolism. For instance, Act I: Delivery is inspired by the modern baptism of technological objects: the “unboxing” YouTube videos. Thus, this opera asks, how to meaningfully integrate a loudspeaker, with its whole “soul” and darker facets, into human spiritual life.
Premere at Ooperakesä in the Aleksanterin Teatteri, Helsinki (FI), (30-31.8.2023).
Loudspeaker Baptism, Akousma Festival, Montréal (CA) 12.12.2024
Loudspeaker Baptism, La Semaine du Neuf, Montréal (CA) 13.3.2025
Work commissioned by Sawtooth Duo.
Supported by CRSH, CAC and Kone Foundation and Uniarts Helsinki.
