INSTITUTIONS OF THE FLESH

Alwynne Pritchard’s new work, Institutions of the Flesh, is a bold and immersive music-theatre work that explores the human body as a site of memory, ritual, and resistance. Created in collaboration with the Trondheim-based Alpaca Ensemble, the piece blends voice, cello, piano, and electronics in a raw and poetic meditation on love, labour, and devotion. Drawing on texts by William Blake, Heiner Müller and the composer. The work unfolds as a sonic and physical journey through the structures—both intimate and institutional—that shape our lives.

Developed over several years and premiered at Cornerteateret in Bergen, Institutions of the Flesh features performances by Else Bø (piano), Sigrid Elisabeth Stang (violin), Marianne Baudouin Lie (cello), and Pritchard herself as vocalist, with additional sound design by Thorolf Thuestad. The recording captures the intensity and vulnerability of the live performance, offering listeners a powerful and deeply human experience.

Alwynne Pritchard is a British composer and performer whose work spans music-theatre, text, and sound art. She is known for her physical and interdisciplinary approach to composition and performance.

Alpaca Ensemble is a Norwegian group based in Trondheim, recognized for its genre-crossing collaborations and commitment to contemporary music.

Thorolf Thuestad is a Bergen-based sound artist, composer, sound designer and kinetic sculptor working with stage arts, installations and contemporary music.