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International
artists address
the transformation
of the
Emscher Valley

extraSCHICHT

Theo Bleckmann at rehearsals. Not shown: the amazed listeners. With only his voice, he is capable of entrancing an entire hall full of people. © Christoph Giese

Goosebumps guaranteed: In conjunction with the large format video projections, the vocal art of Theo Bleckmann, arrived specially from New York, creates an inescapable attraction. © Christoph Giese

The saxophone did famously – thanks to the artistic support by Karl-Heinz Blomann and Hyun-Jin Kim. © Christine Meyer

Theo Bleckmann against a multimedia photo backdrop. © Christine Meyer

Stage and lighting at the Dortmund-Evinger Bach pumping station. © Pablo Faber

Exercise bicycle and record player: Patrick Praschma’s DJ2000 waiting to perform. © Karl-Heinz Blomann

schwarz/rot Atemgold 09, the wind power plant from the Ruhr, warmed up the audience despite the not so summery temperatures. © Christine Meyer

The Theo Bleckmann and Karl-Heinz Blomann duo: Like the evening’s other concerts, this performance remains unique and unrepeatable. © Christine Meyer

Eckart Waage as compère at EXTRAschicht. © Christine Meyer

World premiere: The "RiverSound Orchestra" gave its first and only concert at EXTRAschicht 2010 in the Dortmund-Evinger Bach pumping station. © Christine Meyer

Spontaneity and reflection - Gilles Aubry triggers off Theo Bleckmann’s vocal improvisations with his computer-controlled sound clips. © Christine Meyer

The Emscher is no stranger to Michael Rodach, as he was already involved in the first stage of the “FlussKlang:RiverSound” project in 2008. © Christoph Giese

Thomas Gerwin at rehearsals. © Pablo Faber

Karl-Heinz Blomann explains the set to Dipl.-Ing. Uwe Fries from the Emschergenossenschaft. © Pablo Faber

A dialogue develops between Theo Bleckmann and Karl-Heinz Blomann, providing the listeners with new idioms again and again. © Pablo Faber

Even during the sound check one can sense how the pumping station can become a cathedral of light and sound: Gilles Aubry (l.) and Thomas Gerwin at the rehearsal. © Christine Meyer

Thomas Gerwin combines digital experimentation with hand-crafted percussion episodes. © Christine Meyer

Gilles Aubry and Michael Rodach at rehearsals. © Pablo Faber

The Emschergenossenschaft’s pumping station at Dortmund-Evinger Bach is transformed into a corpus of light and sound for EXTRAschicht 2010. © Pablo Faber

Guitarist Michael Rodach and sound artist Thomas Gerwin use the acoustics of the engine room at the Dortmund-Evinger Bach pumping station for exciting sound experiments. © Christine Meyer

A composition created while listening: Gilles Aubry (electronics), Theo Bleckmann (vocals), Michael Rodach (guitar), Karl-Heinz Blomann (saxophone), Thomas Gerwin (electronics and percussion). © Christine Meyer

Patrick Praschma in action. He developed the DJ 2000 sound machine, a symbiosis of exercise bike and record player, as early as 2007. © Christoph Giese

Michael Rodach’s guitar fills the engine room at the pumping station with its unique sound. © Christoph Giese

A relaxed group after the performance: Thomas Gerwin, Theo Bleckmann, Karl-Heinz Blomann, Michael Rodach, Gilles Aubry (left to right). © Christine Meyer

It’ll soon get going, but beforehand initiator Karl-Heinz Blomann and guest artists Gilles Aubry (l.) and Thomas Gerwin (r.) take a moment to introduce the "FlussKlang:RiverSound" project and its background to the audience. © Christine Meyer

Michael Rodach and Thomas Gerwin both live in Berlin, but only met for the first time at the pumping station in Dortmund. Getting to know each other in a joint improvisation. © Pablo Faber

Concentration on the essentials: Michael Rodach and Thomas Gerwin. © Christoph Giese

The composers involved in the sound art project "FlussKlangRiverSound 2010" explain their ideas and motivation to the audience: At the centre artistic director Karl-Heinz Blomann, with Gilles Aubry on the left and Thomas Gerwin on the right. © Pablo Faber

Who’s louder? Theo Bleckmann (l.) and Karl-Heinz Blomann. © Christine Meyer

Exhausted but happy: Karl-Heinz Blomann and Patrick Praschma after the sound check at the pumping station. © Christoph Giese

The scene is set for the RiverSound performances at EXTRAschicht 2010 in the engine room of the pumping station. © Karl-Heinz Blomann

The combination of Gilles Aubry’s computer generated sounds and Theo Bleckmann’s voice experiments gained support from a third factor - the incomparable acoustics in the engine room of the Dortmund-Evinger Bach pumping station. © Christoph Giese

Projections immerse the engine room at the pumping station in atmospheric light, while the "Trio Analog" present their “sound sculptures”. © Christoph Giese

Gilles Aubry, Theo Bleckmann, Michael Rodach, Karl-Heinz Blomann, Thomas Gerwin (left to right): Together for an evening, they constitute the "RiverSound Orchestra". © Pablo Faber

Relaxed atmosphere at rehearsals: Karl-Heinz Blomann and Theo Bleckmann in the pump basement. © Christoph Giese

A man and his guitar: Michael Rodach. © Christine Meyer

Sculptress Kerstin von Klein presents her seemingly unfinished figures in the sculpture garden next to the pumping station. With their fragile out-turned emotions, they project silent instants of being. © Karl-Heinz Blomann

Performance artist Patrick Praschma uses his exercise bike to drive a record player. Together with Karl-Heinz Blomann on saxophone and dancer Hyun-Jin Kim, the three form the "Trio Analog". © Christine Meyer

With the cubic metres of breath streaming through the various wind instruments and the pulsing percussion cascades, schwarz/rot Atemgold 09 is an exceptional musical power plant creating just as exceptional a mood. © Christine Meyer

The RiverSound Orchestra, exclusively formed for EXTRAschicht, rehearsing: Gilles Aubry, Michael Rodach, Theo Bleckmann, Thomas Gerwin, Karl-Heinz Blomann (left to right). © Pablo Faber

Dancer Hyun-Jin Kim during the "sound sculptures" performance by the Trio Analog. © Christine Meyer

Theo Bleckmann and Karl-Heinz Blomann in conversation. © Christine Meyer

One of several pairings at EXTRAschicht: Gilles Aubry and Theo Bleckmann improvising live in front of the audience. © Pablo Faber

Theo Bleckmann at his solo concert. Born in Dortmund, he moved to New York at the end of the 1980s. He now ranks as one of the outstanding vocalists, and not only between the Hudson and East River. © Christoph Giese

Patrick Praschma, Karl-Heinz Blomann and Hyun-Jin Kim are delighted at the successful premiere of their performance "sound sculptures". © Christine Meyer

Group portrait with lady: Ulrike Kaßler, Patrick Praschma, Pablo Faber. © Karl-Heinz Blomann

Open or closed ?!? © Karl-Heinz Blomann

Ulya Waldraff (r.), responsible for the outdoor programme on behalf of the Emschergenossenschaft, in conversation. © Karl-Heinz Blomann

Michael Rodach at his solo concert. The Berlin-based guitarist and composer was one of the artists taking part in "FlussKlang:RiverSound 2008". In 2010 he is once again supporting the project with his live appearances at EXTRAschicht. © Christine Meyer

Hyun-Jin Kim uses the stage running diagonally through the audience for her dynamic dance improvisations in the "Trio Analog". Karl-Heinz Blomann plays saxophone, and Patrick Praschma controls sounds with the "DJ 2000" sound machine. © Christoph Giese