Let the music guide you into the depths of the sea.

In celebration of Marie Kølbæk Iversen's solo exhibition “New Atlantics” at Kunsthal Aarhus, we present this enchanting after-hours concert. The Aarhus-based vocal improvisation group AVOPA will perform together with Marie Kølbæk Iversen, who sings sea folk songs from the moors of Midwest Jutland as part of the performance project “Donnimaar”. These songs were collected by Evald Tang Kristensen in the 1870s, including from Marie Kølbæk Iversen's great-great-great-great grandmother Johanne Tygesdatter.

AVOPA creates improvisational vocal music inspired by the present moment – and this afternoon as a soundscape for “Donnimaar's” exploration of the deep sea.

Himmelmekanik is a site-specific, algorithmic sound installation by Wayne Siegel, commissioned by the Royal Library for the 25th anniversary of the Black Diamond. This work, influenced by solar and lunar cycles as well as local weather data, unfolds daily at astronomical noon through a 12-channel sound system built into the Black Diamond's architecture. AVOPA will contribute to the soundscape, adding live vocal elements to the constantly evolving composition, which merges drones, water-like sounds, and chimes to create a dynamic auditory experience.

Biologists and geologists from Aarhus Kommune will gather on at Vilhelmsborg for a special day in one of Denmark's upcoming nature reserves. AVOPA will perform a brief concert adding a musical dimension to this event in celebration of the region's wild landscapes. The performance aims to highlight the connection between music and nature, enhancing the experience of this new conservation area.

Step into AVOPA's enchanting world, where vocal painting is used to take you on an exciting musical journey. Experience a complete concert created through pure improvisation. You can expect to be guided through the entire spectrum of emotions, while encountering beautiful harmonies and unconventional rhythms. AVOPAs sign language is part of the mystery as you can follow the painter guide the singers through the music. Maybe you even understand some of the signs? Watch the singers coloring their melodies and get curious about how they react on the painter's sign. But above all: Expect the unexpected!

Join the party and celebrate Aarhus and all of its wonderful singers, vocal groups and choirs. AAVF and Syng are proud to present a sample of a vast variety of great choirs and vocal groups.
The Pre-Festival is put on in collaboration with Syng and is a stand-alone one-day festival. There will be two stages in Ridehuset, and therefore we can present a large variety of groups.