Mira Calix

Mira Calix composes and produces music and is signed to Warp Records, on which she has released five albums, the most recent being The Elephant In The Room: 3 Commissions , the sequel to 2005’s 3 commissions.

She began her musical adventure by djing, performing at club nights, and as support on several tours, playing a variety of slots with a diverse selection of artists from Radiohead to Boards Of Canada. Her work fuses electronics, organic matter and classical instruments. The release of Eyes Set Against The Sun in 2007 received much critical acclaim.

Early in 2004 Mira was commissioned to write a site-specific piece of music for an installation in the conservatory of the Barbican in London for the re-opening of the Gallery. In September of that year, this piece was released along with Nunu; a collaboration with the London Sinfonietta, and some willing insects. Nunu premiered at the Royal Festival Hall and subsequently toured Europe extensively including performances at the Concertgebouw, Parca Della Musica and the Mariinsky Concert Hall in Moscow.

In 2005, Mira Calix formed a new ensemble called Alexander’s Annexe with pianist Sarah Nicholls and David Sheppard, whose live debut was at the Ravello Festival. The ensemble released an EP on Warp Records, “Push Door To Exit’ in late 2006. She regularly performs and collaborates with cellist Oliver Coates; most recently on an installation piece with video artist Quayola commissioned by the Faster Than Sound Festival.

As well as performing her own material, she has created several installation pieces and compositions, including the setting of one of Shakespeare’s sonnets for the Royal Shakespeare Company, curated by Gavin Bryars. In 2007 she completed a very modern opera; Elephant And Castle, in partnership with composer Tansy Davies, with a libretto by Blake Morrison and directed by Tim Hopkins for the Aldeburgh Festival. Later that year Opera North commissioned her to compose the soundtrack to renowned puppeteers Faulty Optic’s take on Monteverdi’s Orfeo for the Manchester International Festival. The production, titled; Dead Wedding, went on to the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, The Sage and a successful week’s run at the Barbican.

In autumn 2008 Mira created a new a surround mix of Nunu featuring the London Sinfonietta for an SACD; Recovery to Discovery released by the BMIC. The album includes rare work by Jonathan Harvey, Harrison Birtwistle and Jose Alvarez. She also performed two new pieces with the London Sinfonietta, collaborating with the Ugandan Dance Academy, as part of the opening celebrations of their move to Kings Place in London.

During 2007 and 2008 Mira wrote the soundtracks to two films by Italian film director Augusto Contento, Onibus and Tramas. Onibus was performed live and commissioned by Opera North for the Evolution Festival while Tramas won the grand jury prize for best soundtrack at the 2008 Sulmana Film Festival.

She has recently completed a new work based on Allegri’s Misere Mei for Streetwise Opera; My Secret Heart. The piece, which involves a purpose built structure and film by Flat-e, 80 singers, cello by Oliver Coates and Sound Design by David Sheppard, debuted at Southbank Centre in December 08 and will continue to tour as an installation worldwide during 2009.