The cycle Impromptus in Discourse with a Condemned Space comprises performative acoustic interventions that engage with the space of the Hans-Rosbaud Studio and endeavour to capture it from a phenomenological and narrativistic perspective.

Nestled in the rolling hills of the black forest, The Hans-Rosbaud Studio, built in 1950, was the first structure erected on the SWR campus in Baden-Baden by the German public broadcaster after World War II. It's square proportions, high windows and stout appearance evoke an earlier modernity, akin to Behrens' or Wright's early work. In contrast with its demure outward appearance, its interior was continually updated in step with state of the art developments in recording technology.

Over the years it was home to the SWF Symphonic Orchestra, played a large role in the Donaueschingen festival, and was the site of numerous concerts and premieres by composers such as Boulez, Nono, Stockhausen, Strawinsky, and others. Despite its rich history, the building is scheduled to be demolished in 2025, with luxury apartment units projected in its place.

At the end of 2023 we were invited to to be among the last to record at the studio. Together with Gerriet K. Sharma, I developed a cycle of three performative interventions that would allow the space to speak for itself one last time. Each performance follows a score that provides instructions to the performers on how to interact and speak with the studio. 

Broadcast May 2024 on SWR Kultur in JetztMusik programme, editor Michael Rebhahn

Acoustic Mapping, for four performers and tools, 11'17"

Dieser Raum Wird Abgerissen, for three performers and voice, 4'01"

In Conversation With, for two performers and four loudpeakers, 6'26"

Management team: Prof Markus Hechtle - Toygun Kirali (Karlsruhe University of Music), Ilja Vincent Morgenstern - Prof. Gerriet K. Sharma (Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design)

Video: Luise Peschko, Tibor Pilz, Yaël Kolb

Sound Engineering: Toygun Kirali, Wolfgang Rein

Photo: Philip Lawall