Hoxton Hall
14 July 2018, 7.30pm
Hysteria: A Song Cycle for Singer and Psychiatrist
World première of a new work by Jocelyn Pook
Exploring anxiety, voice hearing and now hysteria, Jocelyn Pook presents the final part in her trilogy of works that probe mental health and wellbeing in its many manifestations, Hysteria: A Song Cycle for Singer and Psychiatrist, was commissioned by PS/Y and supported by the Wellcome Trust and Culture&. The work concludes the trilogy, which began with Hearing Voices in 2012 followed by the Anxiety Fanfare and Variations for Voices and Ensemble commissioned for the 2014 Anxiety Arts Festival. The Hysteria song cycle will receive its world première at Hoxton Hall on 14 July. This groundbreaking new work is the final event in the PS/Y Hysteria programme, which over the past year has explored the impact of psychological trauma on the body in new commissions in visual art, dance and music.
The performers of ‘Hysteria: A Song Cycle for Singer and Psychiatrist’ are:
Melanie Pappenheim mezzo-soprano
Laura Moody cello/voice
Kate Shortt cello/voice
Jocelyn Pook viola/voice
Dragan Aleksić and Georgina Anderson video
With the participation of clinical advisor Dr Stéphanie Courtade, along with testimonies of others
Hysteria: A Song Cycle for Singer and Psychiatrist explores the impact of trauma and stress on the body through the testimonials of 10 people’s experiences of psychosomatic phenomena, alongside conversations with psychiatrist Dr Stéphanie Courtade who has been both clinical advisor and participant in the work. Scored for mezzo-soprano, viola, two cellos and recorded voices, with an accompanying video work by Dragan Aleksić and Georgina Anderson, the music explores health, illness and wellbeing and the relationship between mind and body in contemporary society. The performance will be followed by a Q & A with the composer Jocelyn Pook, Dr Stéphanie Courtade and members of the Dragon Cafe chaired by artistic director of Culture& and PS/Y Dr Errol Francis.