Visions of Venus
Wallis Bird. Spark

Wallis_Bird__Tobias Ortmann

The image of the woman? For centuries it was mostly men who painted, composed and invented it. Even in Aretha Franklin's 1967 hit "Natural Woman," she owed her self-discovery to the man she loved. The voice of the diva, however, made it clear: In truth, it is about female strength, about the autonomy of a (black) woman. The women's images that Wallis Bird, the tirelessly creative singer-songwriter, has put together with the classical band Spark are now penned by female poets or composers throughout. The program spans almost 900 years, eight nations and three continents – from early Italian baroque to the Irishwoman's own songs, from Hildegard von Bingen's praise of the maternal wisdom principle to Kate Bush's song "Babooshka",
in which a woman tests her partner's fidelity with fictitious love letters. This is exciting not only because of all the roles in which the female appears, but also thanks to the artfully concentrated arrangements: baroque meets dance floor, quiet poetry meets crisp groove. The Berlin-based singer from County Meath and the German band met in 2019 at a state reception hosted by the German president for his Irish counterpart. Spark played techno, the guests of honor at Bellevue Palace went wild. And the idea was quickly born to work together on fascinating female composers: women who have really shaped the image of themselves.

Concert with intermission


Wallis Bird

Vocals & Guitar

Spark – Die klassische Band

Andrea Ritter
Recorder

Daniel Koschitzki
Recorder and melodica

Stefan Balazsovics
Violin and viola

Victor Plumettaz
Violoncello

Christian Fritz
Piano


Hildegard von Bingen
O Virtus Sapientiae

Björk
Oceania

Amy Beach
A Mirage

Clara Schumann
Liebst Du Um Schönheit

Fanny Hensel
There Be None Of Beauty’s Daughters

Wallis Bird
What’s Wrong With Changing?

Isabella Leonarda
Sonata Op. 16 No. 9

Maria Theresia von Paradis
Sicilienne

Tori Amos
Cloud On My Tongue

Billie Holiday
Now Or Never

Kate Bush
Babooshka

Wallis Bird
Home

Germaine Tailleferre
Larghetto

Anohni
Daylight And The Sun

Joni Mitchell
Big Yellow Taxi

Sandie Wollasch
Believer

Janis Joplin
Mercedes Benz

Elena Kats-Chernin
Fast Blue Village

Wallis Bird
Dr. James Barry

Carole King
A Natural Woman

Wallis Bird
Visions of Venus



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