Musarc: The End of the World Service

A series of live performances in Taranto, Italy, on the 27th May 2022 by choral collective, Musarc. Featuring Neil Luck and Joseph Kohlmaier in collaboration with Post Disaster Rooftops.

Conceived as a diffused oratorio that crosses over between the city and the domain of radio broadcasts, Zoom conversations and the space of the book, The End of the World Service sees the body of the choir endure a modern-day tarantism of colour and sound in the streets and open spaces of the old town.

First, composer Neil Luck (UK) taps into the double trope of the city as a film set and traditional locus of mystery plays with three short tableaus populated by props, choral extras, a wind band and onlookers who happen across the scene at night, pining for a view of the surreal action playing out in the yellow light of Taranto’s street lanterns.

Then, Joseph Kohlmaier (UK/AT) takes the audience on a slow-moving choral procession that ambulated through the narrow streets of the old city, a remorseful, humming and mumbling crowd carried along by the sound of the drums and steel instruments of the Complesso Bandistico Città di Crispiano, culminating in a choral and communal recital of a libretto written for the occasion by members of the ensemble.

The End of the World Service is part of Bodies as Infrastructures – a season of events and performances staged in the city of Taranto by curatorial platform Post Disaster Rooftops. With new works by Aga Beaupré (PL), Mela Boev (IT), Marie Hamilton (UK), Joseph Kohlmaier (AT/UK), Neil Luck (UK), Sara Rodrigues (PT).

Musarc is one of the UK’s most progressive choral collectives. Founded by Joseph Kohlmaier at the School of Art, Architecture and Design, London Metropolitan University in 2008. The choir has collaborated with Jennifer Walshe, Lin Chiwei, Laure Provost, Ed Atkins, Jenny Moore, Lina Lapelytė, Sam Belinfante, Fritz Hauser, Neil Luck and many others.

It has worked with numerous festivals and arts organisations in the UK and abroad – including the BBC Proms, London Contemporary Music Festival, Palais de Tokyo (Paris), the Royal Academy, CCA Goldsmiths, Museum of London, Extra City (Antwerp), Serpentine Gallery, MK Gallery, Wysing Polyphonic, STUK (Leuwen) Cafe OTO, Bold Tendencies and Whitechapel Gallery.