The Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival concluded with a performance by the Manchester Collective titled 'Papillons' at the Purcell Room in London. This event served as a culmination of the festival's two-week programme, which has been characterised by its focus on collaborative artistic endeavours. The festival aimed to explore the concept of creative cross-fertilisation, often resulting in stimulating, if sometimes challenging, new works.
'Papillons' itself exemplified this spirit of collaboration, weaving together various artistic disciplines. The performance blended live music with elements of dance, theatrical staging, and multimedia projections, creating a multifaceted sensory experience for the audience. This interdisciplinary approach is a hallmark of the Manchester Collective's innovative programming.
Central to the musical component of 'Papillons' was the cellist Laura van der Heijden, whose performance underpinned the evening's rich tapestry of sound. The programme featured a diverse selection of compositions, including works by the contemporary Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, the notable British composer Imogen Holst – daughter of Gustav Holst – and the experimental musician Chaines. The inclusion of such varied composers highlighted the breadth of musical styles and influences present in the collaboration.
The concert aimed to demonstrate that collaboration is an art form in its own right, a theme consistently explored throughout the Multitudes festival. The festival has sought to push boundaries and foster new artistic relationships, challenging conventional performance formats and encouraging artists from different fields to work together. 'Papillons' stood as a testament to the potential for such creative synergy.