Refractions invites the audience to suspend their perceptions of time and reality
Image Credit Alma Haser
text by Lara Monro
This Saturday, April 26, the Queen Elizabeth Hall transforms into a temporal vortex as Manchester Collective presents Refractions, a ninety-minute, uninterrupted performance that melds a millennium of music with contemporary dance and electronic innovation. Under the creative direction of violinist Rakhi Singh, the ensemble collaborates with electronic musician Clark and choreographer Melanie Lane to challenge the linearity of time and the boundaries of classical music.
Singh, co-founder of Manchester Collective, has consistently sought to dissolve traditional concert formalities, bringing classical music into unconventional spaces and contexts. In Refractions, she curates a program that juxtaposes medieval chants and baroque compositions with modern electronic soundscapes, creating a continuous aural and visual experience that traverses planes of emotion—from explosive drama to moments of calm, disorder to joyous rapture.
Clark, known for his evolution from classical violinist to electronic music innovator, joins the ensemble live, blending hard-hitting techno with ambient textures. His collaboration with Manchester Collective reveals the classical undercurrents in his work, creating a soundscape that is both ancient and futuristic.
Melanie Lane's choreography complements this sonic journey, with dancers embodying themes of chaos and harmony, darkness and light. Their movements, inspired by rituals from both ancient and imagined civilizations, add a visceral layer to the performance, transforming the stage into a living tableau of sound and motion.
Refractions is an immersive experience that invites the audience to suspend their perceptions of time and reality. The performance space is transformed with moody lighting and amplified sound. It’s a relaxed atmosphere where traditional concert etiquette is set aside in favor of personal connection with the music.
This innovative collaboration is co-commissioned by the Southbank Centre and The Bridgewater Hall, with support from Jonathan and Ariella Green.