Antigoné

Emmet Cohen has clearly got what it takes. It goes without saying that he is a brilliant pianist who knows to strike a chord with his fellow musicians – legendary figures such as Ron Carter and Benny Golson, leading artists of today like Joshua Redman and Christian McBride, and even the bright hopes of tomorrow, such as Samara Joy and Mejdi Owens – and how to connect with his audience, whether in a jazz club, a concert hall, or online.

Recirquel’s new production, Paradisum explores the myth of rebirth following the silence of a destroyed world, where the means of communication is the body, and the only common language is movement. The creatures of this idyllic existence unfold from the ever-changing, swirling natural forces of the ‘fabric of life’ that pulsates around them, so they can reach the anima mundi, the world soul, through scenes of purification, birth, awakening and ritual.

It could be that even we ourselves often don’t fully comprehend how many ways the digital age has changed our relationship with music. Nevertheless, there remain themes that simply demand an analogue, more traditional approach. Active since the ’10s, singer-songwriter Gergő Szakács has transitioned over the years from monumental pop sounds to more intimate, live instrumental productions, and this journey will reach its next important milestone at Müpa Budapest.