ICARUS VS MUZAK

...with the rainbow of my singing, with the flutter of my wings.

(Susy Shock cit. in Gold, Mercat de les Flors-Casa de la Dansa, Barcellona, 1-3 april 2022)

ABOUT

...with the rainbow of my singing, with the flutter of my wings.

(Susy Shock cit. in Gold, Mercat de les Flors-Casa de la Dansa, Barcellona, 1-3 april 2022)

BIO

Icarus vs Muzak is the continuation of the successful experience that was Icarus Junior – first youth ensemble founded and overseen by Icarus Ensemble in 2007. Their first production, under the direction of Francesco Micheli, was live streamed or RaiRadio3. Later, Icarus produced “Prove di volo” for amplified instruments, elecrtonics and video (created by Otolab and MartinenFabrik). “Prove di volo” was performed in San Francisco (Spring Festival of the Bay Area in collaboration with Italian institute of Culture) and in various italian cities.

The following program, “The Dark Side of the Moon-Revisited” with MartinenFabrik’s video art, was performed in Zagreb Bienniale in 2009. Icarus Junior members took part in projects in Dijon, Milan, Cairo and Alexandria. “Soli Deo Gloria” was performed within the homonymous festival in Reggio Emilia in 2010, with replies in Mantova, Belfort, Milan, Modena. In 2014 “Cervelli in fuga”, collection of youg italian composers in Paris, was performed in Madrid, Avila, Milan/Brera, Reggio Emilia. Icarus vs Muzak started his activity with various concerts based on percussions and the new current ensemble. The ensemble produced several programs for Maramotti Art Collection, ranging from Terry Riley’s “In C” to a mixed Crumb/Guo Wengjing program.

In 2017 the ensemble started a residency in Brera Academy (Milan), still ongoing, in collaboration with Amici di Musica/Realtà. The resulting productions, whether independent or shared with Icarus Ensemble, are significant. Among those, “Sinestesie” was created on the occasion of Brera Academy’s Open Day, in collaboration with Brera Art Gallery: they performed Melchiorre’s “Unreported”, an opera about Ustica air disaster, created together with Associazione parenti delle vittime di Ustica, with replies in Reggio Emilia and Bologna. The ensemble dedicated various thematic programs to contemporary repertoire.

In 2018 Icarus vs Muzak represented Brera Academy in Venice within a MIUR project, promoted by the Ministry of Culture. In 2018/19 the ensemble resumed the topic of the relationship between ancient and contemporary music by commissioning pieces to various composers and performing the two cicles in different Italian cities. In 2020 the ensemble partecipated in RIGENERA festival performing Xenakis’ “Persephassa”. Icarus vs Muzak was selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take part in “Vivere all’Italiana in Musica” project, call meant to diffuse Italian music in the world. Icarus vs Muzak has a legal form since 2020.

In 2021 the ensemble performed in North Macedonia, il 2022 collaborated with ROPA (Roberto Olivan Performing Art) for six replicas of “Gold” ballet in Barcelona, Mercat del flors Casa de la Dansa. This year they are also expected at Cervantino Festival and in Forum Manuel Enriquez in Mexico. Among the multimedia productions of the ensemble we can find “Rigenera”, on the relationship between Music and Architecture, “Electromuzak”, with electronics and latest generation multimedia, “Codice Incanto”, winner of MAECI call, and three CDs dedicated to the present of antiquity inside contemporary, published by Da Vinci.

Musicians

Benedetta Polimeni

Flauto

She has collaborated with major Italian orchestras including ‘I Pomeriggi musicali’ in Milan. Graduate with top marks from the Conservatory of Reggio Emilia, she is a full member of Icarus vs Muzak since its foundation.
Of herself she says: “There are two ways to escape the miseries of life: music and cats!”

Orfeo Manfredi

Oboe

He has played with important orchestras such as the Arturo Toscanini Orchestra , the European youth orchestra ESYO. Since 2018 is member of the ensemble of contemporary music “Icarus Ensemble” with which he has performed in important events including the Venice Biennale.
He said about himself : ” in addition to music my passions are the history of art and walks in the countryside”

Alberto Delasa

CLARINET

He studied and collaborated with the most important italian clarinetists. His activity as a soloist and chamber musician takes place in his homeland and abroad. Is a Icarus vs Muzak member since 2020. He took part in all the ensemble’s recordings.
He says: “My passions? Music and the mountains. In the end, however, there must be time for a glass of wine.”

Gilda Gianolio

HARP

Graduated cum laude at Parma Conservatory. She performed in numerous contexts as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles or orchestras. She also cultivates a passion for prose tand collaborates in various ways with theatres. She’s a Icarus vs Muzak member since 2019. She surely likes to play the harp in concerts, but even more she likes dinners after concerts.

Giorgio Genta

GUITAR

For 15 years he has been a member of Icarus Junior first and of Icarus vs Muzak then. He played in the USA, the Zagreb Biennial, and at various national and foreign festivals. He performs concerts in various classical and contemporary formations and collaborates in pop / rock projects, music and theater, cover bands and crossover.
He says: “When you have to take important decisions, forget about it, and take a guitar”

Diego Petrella

PIANO

Bolognese by birth but Milanese by adoption. Winner of the Prize of the Arts, of the Humanitarian Competition, best student of the Milan Conservatory, second in the Pozzoli Competition of 2021, (first prize not awarded and the only Italian semifinalist).
He says about himself: “born violinist, raised as a pianist, will he die musician?”

Yoko Morimyo

VIOLIN AND VIOLA

She made numerous recordings as a soloist for the Radio of Italian Switzerland under the direction of Giorgio Bernasconi. She took part in several national festivals including the Venice Biennale and MITO. She also cultivates a passion for Baroque music.
Of herself she says: “I am a Dormousloth (dormouse + sloth), serious and anxious, I live in the musical forest and … of course I sleep a lot!”

Luca Colardo

CELLO

He played as a soloist at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and Carnegie Hall in New York, in ensemble at the Cité de la Musique in Paris with the Intercontemporain Ensemble. It was on the cover of Amadeus magazine that presented his CD. Among the Italian concerts the participations in the Society of the Milan quartet and the Quirinal Concerts in Rome.
Of himself he says: “Keep calm and study it slow!”