A Masque for the Multiverse – an extraordinary and captivating experience that bridges the gap between the Baroque and the contemporary, blurring the boundaries between stage and audience and drawing viewers right into the heart of the action.

Inspired by the historical “masque,” the evening unfolds as a multi-layered composition of music, movement, light, text, and voice. Together with eight instrumentalists, three singers, and four dancers, laborgras and CONTINUUM create a sensual reinterpretation of the masque tradition—vibrant, atmospherically rich, and open to new perspectives.

Works by William Lawes, Orlando Gibbons, William Byrd, Thomas Morley, and John Bennet meet compositions from Shara Nova’s opera You Us We All. Past and present enter into a dialogue about longing, change, and identity.

In a constantly shifting space, the audience also moves freely through choreographic and musical tableaux—a walk-in composition full of fleeting encounters, sonic tensions, and unexpected intimacy.

Artistic Direction: laborgras Renate Graziadei & Arthur Stäldi Idea/concept/curation: CONTINUUM (Liam Byrne, Viola Blache, Elina Albach) & laborgras Musical direction: Elina Albach Choreography and dance: Renate Graziadei in collaboration with Rosalind Masson, Abraham Iglesias Rodriguez, Miguel Gonzalez Padilla Dramaturgy: Arthur Stäldi Composition: Shara Nova, William Lawes, Orlando Gibbons, William Byrd, Thomas Morley, John Bennet Music: CONTINUUM Arrangement: Liam Byrne Soprano: Viola Blache Alto: Bernadette Beckermann Bass: Martin Schicketanz Cornetto: Anna Schall (2024) Violin & Viola: Ildiko Ludwig Viola da Gamba: Mirjam Luise Münzel, Liam Byrne Lute: Jonas Nordberg Harps: Babett Niclas Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Historical Drums: Lola Mlacnik Harpsichord & Organ: Elina Albach Lighting Design: Kevin Sock Sound Design: Lutz Nerger Costume Design: Claudia Janitschek Assistant costumes: Manja Beneke Pictures: Phil Dera Design: Mia Sedding Production management: Urszula Heuwinkel Distribution: Micaela Trigo