live show
XL staged show
/ music concert
An old Armenian folktale about the search for world harmony spectacularly comes to life with a concert in a fantastic moving stage setting with an intriguing libretto and light show.
For the staged show of The Bird of a Thousand Voices Tigran Hamasyan is collaborating with director Ruben Van Leer, known for his poetic, ground-breaking transmedia projects, and with visual artist Boris Acket handling the scenography. With Hamasyan’s brand-new semi-improvised music, the angelic singing voice of Areni Agbabian, textual adaptation by Florian Hellwig and an interactive light installation, they bring the myth preoccupying Hamasyan since childhood to life.
The mythological bird appears in many different cultures and often symbolises resurrection and awakening. In the Armenian tradition, its power is found in its song. In order to find the Bird of a Thousand Voices, "the path of no return" must first be taken through black, white and red worlds with endless deserts, cold mountain winters, turbulent rivers and hunted by condemnations, betrayal and forty-headed demons...
* Next to the “XL Staged Show” of the show, Tigran also performs the music with just the band, without any staging & story elements, in a “Music Concert” version. Read the description of the specific performances for more information.
“This story tells me that, if we wish to change the world, we all will need to change individually. This typically Armenian tale was lesser known for ages, but I feel it’s time to present this particular story, with its universal message of spiritual awakening, to the world.”
“I want to explore the feminine viewpoint within this classic male-centric hero’s journey, reinterpreting the original folktale in a modern and universal way. The staging of ‘the mother as storyteller’ is an idea that resonates with me on a deeply personal level.”
XL staged show - teaser video:
TV interview - about the show:
* MORE COMING SOON *