MUSIC FOR SÓLARIS

BEN FROST & DANÍEL BJARNASON: MUSIC FOR SÓLARIS, BARBICAN CENTRE

Composers and producers Ben Frost and Daníel Bjarnason lead a performance of their music for Andrei Tarkovsky’s sci-fi classic Solaris, accompanied by video manipulations by Brian Eno and Nick Roberton.

Having previously worked together on the score for The Deep (2012), Frost and Bjarnason have combined their backgrounds in classical and electronic composition for Sólaris. Using software to distort their musical sketches, they created a score which reflects the confusion felt by the film’s protagonist – haunted by a spectre of his dead wife and disorientated by the psychedelic spirals of the planet Sólaris.

As Eno’s visuals slowly morph the scenes, Frost and Bjarnason’s score swirls, warm and pulsing like the planet’s atmosphere. Plucked strings mimic the pitter-patter of rain, warping into waves of guitar and the muted harmonies of prepared piano.

After the performance Ben and Daníel will be joined by Mat Schulz, the director of Unsound Festival – who originally commissioned the work – for a Q&A (free to ticket holders).