In Portrait: Olga Neuwirth

Recreating the spirit of a cult icon.

Pastry chef turned rule-breaking cabaret act. Backing singer turned striking solo artist. Visionary pop star Klaus Nomi took New York’s East Village by storm in the 1980s. Reacting against the ordinariness of punk and disco, Nomi produced a never before seen brand of entertainment with synthesized covers of music from Henry Purcell to Marlene Dietrich.

Nomi’s songs are central to Saturday 11 February 2012. His music has been arranged by composer Olga Neuwirth to recreate the spirit of this groundbreaking artist and the times he lived in. Countertenor Andrew Watts sings Neuwirth’s music in this concert performance with the London Sinfonietta.

Neuwirth gained prominence in the UK with her adaptation of David Lynch’s Lost Highway for ENO and Young Vic and is now taking Nomi’s voice into the concert hall. Also taking centre stage is Alistair Mackie, the London Sinfonietta’s Principal trumpet for …miramondo multiplo… a concerto echoing the soundworlds of Miles Davis, Berg, Mahler, Messiaen and Handel.

Photos of Klaus Nomi © George-DuBose