aaamusic | On 18, Mar 2011

Manchester International Festival welcomes Björk to Manchester for the world premiere of her Biophilia live show.

Björk will be at MIF for a three-week residency; six intimate shows in the striking space of Campfield Market Hall for audiences of 1800, her first UK dates in over three years.

Where do music, nature and technology meet? Björk introduces Biophilia, an extraordinary answer to this fascinating question and her most ambitious and exciting work to date. A multi-media project encompassing music, apps, internet, installations and live shows, Biophilia celebrates how sound works in nature, exploring the infinite expanse of the universe, from planetary systems to atomic structure. Release dates and further information will be confirmed shortly. Music and apps will be available via iTunes and the App Store.

For these six special shows, Björk will be performing new tracks from the forthcoming Biophilia studio album as well as music from her genre-defying back catalogue with a small group of unique musical collaborators. The show will feature a range of specially conceived and crafted instruments, among them a bespoke digitally-controlled pipe organ; a 30 foot pendulum that harnesses the earth’s gravitational pull to create musical patterns – creating a unique bridge between the ancient and the modern; a bespoke gamelan-celeste hybrid; and a one-off extraordinary pin barrel harp. These devices make visible some of the physical processes that are the subject matter of tracks.

In a special collaboration with MIF, the Biophilia live show will travel to major cities around the world following the Manchester premiere. MIF will also be working with young people in Manchester to explore the musicological, scientific and technological ideas behind the project. In a series of educational workshops schoolchildren will be given the unique opportunity to experience the world of Biophilia first hand, and to immerse themselves in the endlessly rich and inspiring place where cutting edge technology, music and nature meet. For more details visit www.mif.co.uk

‘Its an honour to be working with Björk to help her premiere these ambitious live shows and we look forward to taking this residency to key cities around the world’, says Alex Poots, Festival Director.

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival.

Produced by Manchester International Festival and Björk.

With thanks to the Museum of Science and Industry for their collaboration and support.

BJÖRK – BIOPHILIA

CAMPFIELD MARKET HALL, CAMPFIELD AVENUE ARCADE, MANCHESTER M3 4FH

JUNE

THU 30 at 20:30

JULY

SUN 3 / SUN 10 at 16:00

THU 7 / WED 13 / SAT 16 at 20:30

Björk will be on stage at 16:00 and 20:30

Tickets £45 (no per ticket booking fee; transaction charge applies)