Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre & Now or Never
Moritz von Oswald presents Silencio
In a Now or Never exclusive, Moritz von Oswald, a figure synonymous with electronic music, Basic Channel and techno, performs his acclaimed work Silencio.
A landmark in modern composition, Silencio reflects von Oswald's dedication to expanding the limits of sound, while capturing his affinity with avant-garde pioneers Edgard Varèse, György Ligeti, and Iannis Xenakis.
Performing live with Consort of Melbourne's 16-voice ensemble, Silencio explores the tension and harmony between electronic synthesis and the human voice. Otherworldly synths drift over skeletal rhythms and choral textures, tracing the ghost of early techno and minimalism with clinical restraint. Both sacred and subversive, Silencio is haunting, reverent, and quietly radical.
A landmark work from a true innovator of the form.
Praise for Moritz Von Oswald
‘Like the earliest Detroit experiments, it's material that positions electronic music as a way to speculate about the past's relationship with the future. Von Oswald has formulated a minimalist masterpiece that interrogates not just technology, but the conceptual technologies of cultural invention.’ – Boomkat
Duration: 1 hour 15 mins (no interval). Please note, running times are approximate and subject to change.
Artists
Moritz von Oswald
The Consort of Melbourne
About Moritz von Oswald
Moritz von Oswald, legendary master of electronic experimentalism and technical exactitude, has an unassailable place in the modern history of forward-thinking music. To follow his career is to take a guided tour through some of the most important developments, places, and people in the history of electronic music.
In the early ‘80s, following his education as a classical percussionist, von Oswald found a home within the avant-garde group Palais Schaumburg, setting the stage for a career that would become synonymous with electronic experimentation. His collaborations with Thomas Fehlmann, Juan Atkins, and Mark Ernestus in projects such as 2MB, 3MB, and the seminal Basic Channel, as well as his independent productions, laid down the blueprints for techno, minimal, and dub-inflected soundscapes that continue to resonate within the genre and beyond. A leading figure in Berlin’s electronic scene, von Oswald’s work, both as a musician and a mastering engineer, has been pivotal in shaping the sonic contours of the electronic music genre.
Moritz von Oswald continues to be a key figure in electronic music, driving the genre forward through his innovative projects and collaborations. His work not only encapsulates the historical roots of the genres but also relentlessly pushes them into new realms, continually exploring with curiosity what electronic music can become.
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