In English language

Aaron Cassidy's lecture explores two recent works based on self-portraits by the painter Gerhard Richter, Self-Portrait, Three Times, Standing (15.3.1991–20.3.1991) and Self-portrait, 1996. It examines the stacking of realities that are present in the idea of the self-portrait, the complex relationship between what is real and what is fabricated, what is vulnerable and what is performed, what is revealed and what is covered or obscured. Above all, Aaron Cassidy addresses the question: where am ‘I’ in my work?

Aaron Cassidy is an American composer and conductor based in England since 2007 where he serves as Professor of Composition and Director of the Centre for Research in New Music (CeReNeM) at the University of Huddersfield. His work has been programmed by leading international contemporary music specialists and soloists, and at major international festivals and venues. Also active as a conductor, Cassidy has led performances of a diverse range of contemporary and traditional repertoire in a variety of professional and university settings. As an author his contributions include chapters in the first, second, and sixth volumes of Wolke Verlag’s New Music and Aesthetics in the 21st Century series and journals including Sonic Ideas/Ideas Sónicas, Search Journal for New Music and Culture, and Contemporary Music Review. http://aaroncassidy.com

Performance Credits:
Self-Portrait, Three Times, Standing (15.3.1991–20.3.1991) performed by ELISION, conducted by Carl Rosman, National Concert Hall Taipei, Taiwan, 31 May 2019
Self-portrait, 1996 performed by Ensemble Musikfabrik, conducted by Aaron Cassidy, Mediapark, Köln, Germany, 9 March 2020

Mentioned paitings by Gerhard Richter:
https://bit.ly/3ehvGM6
https://bit.ly/3fIRdhj
https://bit.ly/3hBhC2a

This lecture was held through a video conference call in the framework of the Wednesday lecture series of the Schloss Wiepersdorf Virtual Residency 2020.