Toni Castells - 08 Annie + Irantzu ft. Dr Mary Neal - 2045 @ St James’s Piccadilly 6.7.2016

08 Annie + Irantzu
Music: Toni Castells
Lyrics: Excerpts from an interview with orthopaedic spine surgeon Dr Mary Neal conducted with Robert Ricciardelli discussing her near-death experience when she drowned in 1999 while kayaking in the Los Rios region of southern Chile.
Spoken Voice:
“I’m not quite sure what to call them. I knew that I had known them as long as I existed, and I knew that they had known me and loved me as long as I existed. It was so joy-filled. And they were taking me down this exceptionally beautiful path, not only exploding with beauty and
colour but the absolute purity of God's love. I had no desire to return, I wasn't coming back. But it was profound because it was at that point that it became very clear to me how it can be true that God actually knows each one of us, loves each one of us as though we are the only one, and has an incredible plan for each one of us.” Dr Mary Neal
Choir:
Loves each one of us as though we are the only one. Each one of us.
About 2045:
‘2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal?’ (2016) started as a homage to this concept called Technological Singularity, this new era that the techno-scientific community have predicted to be possible by 2045 in which technology will finally allow for man and machine to merge, enabling us the possibility to prolong life indefinitely, making us immortal effectively.
But the piece also wonders whether there's a purpose to being mortal and whether there's a purpose to dying. When our days are numbered, life becomes more precious and we cherish more the things we love. In essence, it wonders whether we should tamper with nature's cycle of life, where there's always new life from death, and whether this technocratic path we've chosen is the right path for all of us.
The piece is structured in 5 sections mirroring the five stages of a fruit tree, a metaphor for the cyclic nature of life. The first three sections constitute a first block representing the process from life to death. The last two sections constitute a second block where, after what we understand as death, I wonder about the eternal nature of the human soul. In the timeline of the piece, these two blocks are separated exactly at the Golden Ratio and all the individual pieces that constitute the piece follow the timings of the Fibonacci Sequence.
The piece was premiered at St. James's Church in Piccadilly, London, on the 6th of July 2016. It was further performed at Buck Hall in Cowdray House on the 9th of July 2016. It received standing ovations on both occasions and widespread acclaim.
Credits:
Meeta Raval - Soprano
Alexandra Kennedy - Soprano (recorded)
Oliver Gerrish - Countertenor
Helios Voices - Choir
Ruth Rogers - Violin
Katherine Jenkinson - Cello
Martin Cousin - Piano
Olivia Duque - Cor Anglais
Martin Stephens - Electric Bass
Toni Castells - Electronics + Keyboards + Voice
Jo Lord - Technical Director
Martyn Larcombe - Assistant Technical Director
Ben Palmer - Audio Engineer
Laura Beck - Audio Engineer