AN INDEX OF METALS

Communing with the Spirit of Ivan Blatný

Concert Program:

GÉRARD GRISEY: Périodes
MICHAL RATAJ: A Game of Chess (2026) – commissioned by the BCO (Brno Contemporary Orchestra), world premiere
FAUSTO ROMITELLI: An Index of Metals

Kaoko Amano (soprano)
Paolo Pachini / Martin Svobodník (video)
Michal Rataj and Pavel Blažek (chess players)
BCO – Brno Contemporary Orchestra
Conductor: Pavel Šnajdr

Romitelli’s monumental video-opera *An Index of Metals* represents an extension of spectral principles into the realm of multimedia, while simultaneously linking them with the aesthetics of psychedelic rock, noise, and electronic music. The composer himself viewed the work as an attempt to transcend the boundaries of opera. He sought to create a "total perceptual experience" in which sound, image, and light merge into a single stream leading to a hypnotic trance. Here, Romitelli develops his fascination with the materiality of sound and speaks of abandoning traditional operatic narrative: the "plot" is not a story, but rather the transformation of sound, image, and energy. The work will be performed in the industrial space of the former garages near Bobycentrum. Its raw architecture and unique acoustics are ideal for this audiovisual event; the space does not merely serve as a backdrop but becomes an active participant, merging with the image and sound into a single, immersive whole.