The doubleA foundation develops innovative music theatre in the form of international co-productions which stretch the art form’s boundaries.
Current projects
The Book of Water
A chamber music theatre work for actor, string quartet, and film based upon the novella Man in the Holocene by Max Frisch. The premiere will be in September 2022 at the Venice Biennale, and further performances are planned throughout season 2022/23. The performances will feature actors Samuel West and Timothy West (film).
Touched by a hologram?
What would it take to really connect to a 3D hologram in a virtual space? Would you feel seen if the hologram makes eye contact, reacts to your movements, anticipates your touch?
The doubleA foundation wants to create new artistic and technical tools for interacting with an audience in a virtual space. We will research and design these interactions from a creator’s point of view; with artist-driven ideas, and streamlined for the performing arts.
We will develop technology for an audience member to become a protagonist or even a subject in the artwork. This will open the doors for new types of dramatic expression and highly personal experiences, and will lead to a radical new form of presentation.
We will collaborate with national and international partners, and a team of top-notch freelancers: director, developers, dramaturg, producers, musicians, actor, marketing manager, web designer, and director of photography.
We will work in sprints to tackle technological challenges, test our development with an audience, share our findings with the cultural sector, and help initiate new projects.
Touched by a hologram is support by InnovatieLabs.
Previous projects
Recent highlights include Eight, a virtual reality installation featuring singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke and the Nederlands Kamerkoor. In collaboration with designer Theun Mosk and virtual reality company The Virtual Dutch Men, van der Aa has created a unique groundbreaking fusion of musical theatre, VR and visual art.
“Eight” was commissioned by the Holland Festival, Festival International d’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence, Château La Coste, Beijing Music Festival, KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen, and Helsinki Festival.
The 2021/22 season saw the world premiere of Michel’s new film opera Upload. What if our minds could live forever? It sounds like science fiction, but in the not-all-too-distant future, it will be possible to transfer our memories, thoughts and experiences to an artificial brain. A utopia for some; it means we can exist forever and that our loved ones would never have to miss us. But what are the consequences for our humanity, our identity and for our relationships? “Upload” explores these ancient philosophical questions against the backdrop of present-day and near-future technologies.”
Commissioned by Dutch National Opera, Park Avenue Armory, Oper Köln, Bregenzer Festspiele and Ensemble MusikFabrik and features live performances by Julia Bullock and Roderick Williams.