2026 Divine Intimacies
UK Tour

Inspired by one of the earliest texts of Chinese philosophy, Divine Intimacies explores how nearly a thousand years of musical thought can be translated into contemporary sound.

The Music

During the performance, visual representations of hexagrams from the ancient Chinese text I-Ching (The Book of Changes) will be generated in real time, projected around the space. These combinations of Yin and Yang guide a series of structured improvisations between the musicians, shaping the music and allowing each performance to take a different path. Music by Kaija Saariaho, John Cage and J S Bach appears alongside a medieval chant by Hildegard von Bingen, ancient Chinese ritual drumming, and works by Yang Yong and Toshio Hosokawa. Although separated by time, geography and musical language, these works share a sensitivity to resonance, stillness and the subtle forces that shape the natural world.

The Artists

The musicians will be surrounded by a responsive LED installation created by artist Ke Peng, with visuals by Chang Meng. Light shifts in colour and pattern across the performance, forming a changing visual landscape around the musicians.