Barley, a

Transcendent With Awesome Majesty. John Tavener wrote these words above the opening cello notes of The Protecting Veil, immediately communicating the scale of this universal, timeless, structurally perfect and emotionally powerful work. In the composers words The cello represents The Mother of God and never stops singing. Indeed, the cello sings without stopping for the entire 46 minutes of the piece, requiring huge mental and physical stamina. Matthew Barley leads Sinfonietta Riga in this exploration of Taveners musical works and inspirations, interspersing performances with readings of WB Yeats and Frithjof Schuon by renowned actors Julie Christie and Olwyn Fouéré.

Après son premier voyage chez les Dowayo, narré dans L'anthropologue en déroute, N. Barley menait une vie paisible au British museum. C'est alors qu'il apprend que cette tribu du Nord Cameroun va reprendre une très ancienne cérémonie de circoncision. Il ne tient plus et repart, ce qui donne un récit cocasse. …