In Bruges with Katrien Baerts (soprano): Salvatore Sciarrino’s Aspern Suite.
With lyrics by Lorenzo da Ponte (Mozart’s librettist), the composer brings us the muted tones of a ghostly Venice. Although Sciarrino’s music can be described as contemplative, such a depiction also has to contend with the disturbing image of a motionless noontime atmosphere, trembling, overwhelmed by light, where “too much reality” casts doubt on one’s existence – and our ability to reason.