Loudspeaker Babtism
Delivery — Memories — Suffering — Sublimation
“In the factory’s testing room, the freshly assembled loudspeaker model Genelec 8020D was thrust into darkness—a narrow, suffocating hole that swallowed it whole. Uuuit! Uit! UUuuiit! A quick, frenetic sequence of frequency sweeps, ranging from 20Hz to 20kHz, coursed through its circuitry, while a screwdriver prodded it in the back. This birth cry, designed to fine-tune the loudspeaker’s frequency response, was muffled by the thick, sound-absorbing material that enveloped it.”
Loudspeaker Baptism aims to crack open the mundane perception of a loudspeaker as a mere commodity and activate its latent archetypal and mystical meanings. Through a playful yet earnest approach, this opera connects the consumerist and technological framework of a loudspeaker with religious and spiritual symbolism. For instance, Act I: Delivery is inspired by the modern baptism of technological objects: the “unboxing” YouTube videos. Thus, this opera asks, how to meaningfully integrate a loudspeaker, with its whole “soul” and darker facets, into human spiritual life.
“With swift movements, the connection was severed. Unplugged, the loudspeaker was wrapped tightly in plastic, packaged into a cardboard box, and transported to the warehouse. In the darkness of that box, it let out a small cry.”
Chamber opera in 4 acts for soprano, accordion, Genelec 8020D, puppeteer, and electronics.
Crew
Created by Charles Quevillon with Sawtooth Duo (Sarah Albu and Matti Pulkki)
Composition and Stage Direction: Charles Quevillon
Lights: Erno Seppälä
Set Design: Erno Seppälä and Charles Quevillon
Libretto: Charles Quevillon with inspiration from Eino Leino and Genelec user manual. Editing: Maija Tammi
Performed by: Sarah Albu (soprano), Matti Pulkki (accordion), and Charles Quevillon (puppeteer and electronics)
Production: Charles Quevillon with Sawtooth Duo
Cast
Sarah Albu (soprano),
Matti Pulkki (accordion)
Charles Quevillon (puppeteer and electronics)
Performances:
30.8.2024, 19h
31.8.2024, 16h
Aleksanterin Teatteri, Helsinki
Matti Pulkki 