Michel van der AA – One (2011)

I have known the music of Dutch composer Michel van der AA for a couple of years now and posted two of his albums. This chamber opera for soprano and video, titled ‘One’, is a striking piece of work: evidently, apart from being a composer, van der AA has developed masterful skills as a stage director as well. According to my personal taste, this DVD is an artistically highly accomplished music video. Very fascinating indeed.
Right from the beginning the actor/singer in this opera mesmerizes the viewer when she emerges from the dark and intermittently lights up her face with a device known as a dyno torch, a lamp that gives light when squeezed. A simple idea, certainly; but together with her voice, to what wonderful effect!







Tracks:

I, II, III, IV, V

Performers:

Barbara Hannigan (‘one’) – soprano
Sheila Wiersum (elderly ‘one’) – soprano

‘documentary’ inserts:

H.L. van Eesteren
Mary Rose Arntzenius
Margaret van Berckel
Franki van Weli

Michel van der AA – stage & video director