Into The Open 2025: "Rituals". International Ensemble Modern Academy, All female band “Narcose” & Raimonda Žiūkaitė

In the organizer's words:

Part 1, 19:30 - 20:30h: International Ensemble Modern Academy

Artist

• International Ensemble Modern Academy

Program

• Zara Ali: Behave (2022)
• Francesco Filidei: I Funerali dell'Anarchico Serantini (2006)
• James Tenney: Having Never Written a Note for Percussion (1971)
• Matthew Shlomowitz: Joy Time Ride for Ives (2009)

Part 2, 21-21:30h: All female band "Narcose" - A Pageant (world premiere, commissioned for ITO25) with Raimonda Žiūkaitė (composer)

Artists

• Narcose, all-female band
• Raimonda Žiūkaitė, composer & performer

Program

A Pageant is a satirical performative piece for a rock band line-up, inspired by the ritualistic allure of beauty pageants. It explores the cultural obsession with image, performance and conformity and plays with the audience's false expectations. Blending the raw energy of a rock band with the theatricality of beauty pageants, the performance explores themes of commercialization, self-surveillance and societal expectations with subtle absurdity and black humour.

The piece is divided into five movements inspired by beauty pageants: The Introduction, The Talent Contest (which features solos from the band members that are intentionally awkwardly played), The Interview/Q&A (earnest conversations about world peace and peace and hunger interspersed with glitch moments), The Evening Gown Parade, and The Coronation.

About the festival Into the Open 2025: Rituals

Into the Open is an interdisciplinary festival that aims to redefine the classical music experience by combining it with different art forms. This special approach offers unique concert experiences ranging from electronic music, visual arts, multimedia installations, dance, lighting design and experimental film. It is aimed at everyone who loves art in all its forms.