MEDIATHEK

- there is no why here is a multimedia music theatre project conceived and composed by Andrea Molino, in collaboration with Giorgio Van Straten for the text choice and the dramaturgy. The title is taken from “If This Is A Man” by Primo Levi: it is the answer he received from a guard in Auschwitz who snatched an icicle from him that he wanted to melt to quench his thirst. The basis of the project’s dramaturgy is, following Hannah Arendt, „the fundamental problem of the nature and function of human judgement”: the critical point where the traditional ways of distinguishing between right and wrong, between good and evil, fail; the solitude of man in this condition, the ultimate necessity to assume responsibility. This failure takes place precisely in the situation where this ability to distinguish would be most useful: when the very definition of the essence of the human condition is at stake.

– there is no why here - is the final chapter of a trilogy which started with two previous multimedia projects by Andrea Molino: CREDO, 2003-2004, on ethnic and religious conflicts, and WINNERS, 2005-2006, on “winners and losers”. Different important constituents of these two projects are also present in this one:

- the theme is non-literary and has strong social connotations;

- the choice of a non-narrative dramaturgy;

- the use of textual and audiovisual contributions from different sources, organically inserted into the texture of the musical and multimedia composition;

- the presence on stage of a symphony orchestra – a major theatrical character – together with the vocal and instrumental soloists;

- an integrated and dramaturgical use of new communication technologies.

The different elements of the musical, theatrical and multimedial vocabulary (music, texts, multimedia, interactivity, sound, stage, light) are conceived together and converge into an organic language, through the instrumental use of technology.
The flow of the performance is created through a continuous sequence of musicaltheatrical moments, each one approaching one or more aspects of the theme, connected through a non-narrative but linear dramaturgy. A specific and innovative approach to the possibilities of multimedia is a particularly important element. The video contributions will be physically played by the performers. A specific multimedia software (MeRit)will allow the musicians to musically interact with the audiovisual material: the video becomes an instrument.