Musica Viva Australia: The Cage Project

A mesmerising spectacle for ears and eyes.

Australian percussionist, composer, and sound artist Matthias Schack-Arnott collaborates with acclaimed French pianist Cédric Tiberghien on John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes of 1948.

Known for his unique approach to sound, Schack-Arnott creates sculptural musical worlds that are beautifully lit and dramatically staged. In The Cage Project, he reimagines Cage’s iconic prepared piano work, augmenting it with a massive kinetic sound sculpture that floats above the piano, dancing in synchronicity with Tiberghien’s exquisite playing.

A pioneer in percussive development, Cage used the prepared piano to expand the instrument’s sonic possibilities. More than 70 years later, The Cage Project transforms it into a three dimensional sculptural world, with Tiberghien at its heart.

Premiered at the 2023 Adelaide and Perth Festivals, The Cage Project was described by Limelight as ‘engagingly playful, richly emotional and deeply meditative.’ Now, audiences in Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney can experience its magic.