The virtuosic interaction of voice, performance and multi-media is a core interest of both the singer Anne-May Krüger and the composer and performer Andreas Eduardo Frank, forming Duo frKRr. It’s not the idea of „more is more“ that triggers this interest, but rather the creation of a playful vexation in the combination of live performance and diverse media levels. This also regards the undermining of role conventions, resulting in the conversion of the vocalist into a part of a virtual machine, or making light and video the accompanist of the singer. And sometimes the composer also takes the stage as a performer, laying open the technical machinery.

The first collaboration of the Duo, Restore Factory Defaults (2017) for voice, electronic, light and video, has had performances at European festivals like ZeitRäume Basel and Wien Modern and at NUNC! (Northwestern University of Illinois). In 2021, their first evening-length debut program as a duo, what you see – is what you get – is what you hear, was shown in Basel, comprising compositions by Luc Ferrari, Andreas Eduardo Frank and Paul Clift (world premiere). 2023 their program Music for Unicorns was premiered, featuring world premieres of Mike Svoboda and Chloé Bieri.

Iridescent, playful and capricious – Duo frKRr’s new program is all about...what?! Unicorns?! Aren’tthose these plushy toys with a heart on the butt and a sparkly horn? Those squeaky clean fantasy creatures with the sad eyes? Well, wait a minute. We’re talking about those unicorns that left paradise on their own free will. Choosing to rather swim for 40 days and nights and perish in the boiling ocean than obey Noah, unwilling to exchange safety for freedom. So unicorns actually are not comfy fluffy stuffed animals but instead renegades of the occident. Music for Unicorns is dedicated to the rebellious heart that beats behind every rainbow mane.

Music by Luc Ferrari, Chloé Bieri (world premiere), Mike Svoboda (world premiere) and John Cage.

Die Tendenz, Wahrnehmungen aus unserer Umwelt als Objekte, Muster oder hinsichtlich eines vermeintlichen Sinnes zu interpreQeren – wie beispielsweise, wenn wir Wolken als konkrete Formen und Gesichter auf der Mondoberfläche oder im Toast sehen —, nennt man „Pareidolia“. Sie ist offenbar etwas urmenschliches und entspricht der Suche nach Sinn, sei es mit Blick auf die grossen Fragen des Lebens oder auch nur beim Betrachten zufälliger Alltagserscheinungen. Das Programm des Duos frKRr widmet sich eben diesem Bestreben des menschlichen Geistes, Ordnung in die ihn umgebende Welt zu bringen. Ein nicht selten rührend hilfloses Unterfangen angesichts der permanent zunehmenden Dichte und Komplexität an Informationen.

Musik von Luc Ferrari, Andreas Eduardo Frank und Paul Clift (UA).