Premiere

July 12th, 2025 @ Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, CAM - Modern Art Centre (PT)

Commission

Originally funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Programme notes

An Aria for the Mallard reimagines the aria as a meeting point between human expression and the more-than-human world. Set in the south pond of the Gulbenkian Garden, a floating corten-steel sculpture acts as both score and resonant body, integrating itself quietly into the surrounding ecosystem.

The composition blends electroacoustic textures with field recordings and the live presence of the soprano, creating a sonic environment where human and non-human voices merge into a single, fluid chorus. Rather than illustrating nature, the work listens to it — inviting visitors to experience the garden as an active collaborator.

Through this merging of sound, sculpture and ecology, An Aria for the Mallard offers a brief but immersive reflection on coexistence and the fragile entanglements that shape our shared spaces.

Written in 2025.

© PRS/MCPS/SPA T-333.872.310-3