Wondermuziekkamer - adaptation of a European collection

The ‘Wonder Music Chamber’, or Wondermuziekkamer, is an interdisciplinary event and dialogue between a baroque trio and an interactive installation. Among the artworks exposed in the music chamber are imaginary creatures, impressive objects, landscapes of far-away countries and documentaries about natural history, coupled with music compositions for violin and harpsichord. These compositions are a selection of the 17th century ‘stylus phantasticus’ sonatas, played on the instruments of that time.

Wondermuziekkamer is a contemporary adaptation of a cabinet of curiosities. In the baroque movement, rich and exquisite socialites were obsessively collecting and displaying objects that could give them an air of social status and knowledge, all to impress their peers. Ion Kazantzidis and Dialoghi Trio have created this adaptation by using animatronics, video projections, paintings and interactive props, along with live music. The installation and the music merge into an interactive network and together tell the story behind the collection. Wondermuziekkamer thereby reimagines the baroque story, yet with the aesthetics, symbols and interpretations of our modern-day perception.

Concept and installation: Ion Kazantzidis
Musians: Dialoghi trio: Dionysia Kazantzidi, Nefeli Alexouli and Sevastianos Motorinos

Wondermuziekkamer is financed by Herstelgeldfonds Gemeente Utrecht in cooperation with HKU Utrechts Conservatorium.