Chasing Homer is the latest musical work by Eli Keszler, an up-and-coming instrumentalist, composer and visual artist based in New York. The project is based on Keszler’s inspiring encounter with Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, known for his collaborations with filmmaker Béla Tarr. While working on his new book of the same name, which will be published later this year, Krasznahorkai invited Keszler to create a “musical framework” to accompany the book. Together, they set off in search of Homer and his monumental Odyssey, travelling to the Croatian coast to collect impressions, stories, sounds and images. Their journey took them to the island of Mljet, home to the nymph Calypso in Greek mythology, where Keszler recorded street music, voices and nature sounds. These recordings, in combination with spoken passages from Krasznahorkai’s book and Keszler’s virtuoso percussion playing, form the musical and narrative fabric of the evening. Chasing Homer will be premiered at the Wiener Festwochen and is a powerful new statement in the work of Eli Keszler, who will perform the work live on his prepared drum set.

Listen to Eli Keszler here

To start the evening the versatile Austrian musician Lukas König will present his new project together with Berlin-based composer Audrey Chen.

Listen to Lukas König here

The concert will be followed by a party with free admission. The Wiener Festwochen present their last Night Shift: the Istanbul-based duo Insanlar will set the mood the Gösserhallen with their shamanistic techno-folk hybrid.

Listen to Insanlar here

PRICES: EUR 10