Depot:Choregie Festival
Archival article
In 2010 Choregie Festival, a 6-day annual international festival of new music theatre, was launched by the Choregie – New Music Theatre, a private institute engaged in developing synergies and new modes of expression at the cross-sections of music and performing arts. It was established by Karmina Šilec, the conductor and artistic director of Carmina Slovenica choir.
Concept and programme
The concept of choregie as a vocal theatre, which incorporates music, drama, movement and other stage elements, has been developed by Karmina Šilec in the framework of the Carmina Slovenica choir's projects.
The first edition of the festival took place at the Slovene National Theatre Maribor and presented three productions by !Kebataola! Ensemble (starting with the Ursonate by Kurt Schwitters), and performances by Familija, Janez Škof and Bojan Gorišek, as well as by Jaap Blonk (NL) and Miguel Azguime (PT).
The 2011 edition included the two Carmina Slovenica choir's projects: Pleading for words, taking place at the Maribor Cathedral, and the Perspective EAST performance at Union Hall, which included music from Bali, China, Japan, Malaysia, India, Korea, Georgia and other countries. Festival also featured works by the saxophonist Vasko Atansovski and by the composer of electroacoustic and computer music, Marjan Šijanec. After its third edition in 2012 – linked with the Maribor, European Capital of Culture 2012 – the festival was temporarily shelved.