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Ashby de la Zouch, UK, April 2024 — Andrea Manzoni, Milan-based renowned pianist, composer and sound recordist, represents a new generation of pianists who continue to redefine the landscape of music with an innovative approach that blurs the boundaries of traditional music styles. As part of his pursuit into new dimensions, Manzoni recently embarked on a transformative journey into the Icelandic wilderness to gather nature sounds for the sound design of 'Qivittoq’, a compelling theatrical production depicting a dystopian love story set in the solitude of the North Pole, in a world rapidly depleting its resources.

Image: Andrea Manzoni

Working from a draft script from the Director of the theatre show, Manzoni was keen to immerse himself in the unique ambience, and secured a 30-day residency in the remote town of Isafjordur in the Westfjords. Manzoni embarked on 12 excursions over the 30 days to remote locations devoid of human presence, to capture the raw environmental sounds with 2 Rycote HC-15 shotgun microphones, that would infuse 'Qivittoq's' soundtrack with an unparalleled authenticity, alongside his composition and production efforts.

Venturing into the Icelandic wilderness presented a captivating challenge," reflects Manzoni. "The elemental sounds of ice, wind, and dock wood have always fascinated me, and recording them along with the sounds of waterfalls, waves and Ravens amidst the stark beauty of Iceland's landscapes was truly inspiring. My objective was to integrate the essence of nature into the fabric of my composition, establishing a profound connection between sound and narrative. The result is a purely organic auditory experience.

Equipped with the advanced Rycote HC-15 hypercardioid short shotgun microphone, paired with a Rycote InVision shock-mount and Windshield rain cover, Manzoni braved extreme weather conditions to capture the elusive sounds of nature.

The hypercardioid pickup pattern of the HC-15 enabled precise sound capture, almost akin to monophonic recording. With 60 km per hour blizzards, and sub-zero temperatures, the InVision high grip and the microphone’s lightweight and versatile design proved invaluable, ensuring optimal performance amidst the harshest conditions, comments Andrea Manzoni.

Despite encountering formidable challenges, including sudden blizzards and temperatures plummeting to -35 degrees Celsius, Manzoni's unwavering dedication propelled him forward. Undertaking long-distance treks, often resulting in mere minutes of recording after hours of arduous journeying, Manzoni remained focussed in his pursuit of auditory excellence.

Precision in sound recording is paramount," concludes Manzoni. "The HC-15's exceptional quality ensured that every sound, no matter how distant or fleeting, was captured with unparalleled clarity. I consider myself fortunate to have had such a remarkable tool at my disposal during this extraordinary expedition.

Manzoni’s expedition exemplifies an innovative approach to sound design, pushing the boundaries of music and sound recording. This unique undertaking promises to bring a new level of authenticity and immersion to "Qivittoq," enhancing the audience's experience through the power of authentic sounds. The soundtrack will be released in April, alongside a premier of the show to be hosted at the Teatro Sociale Bellinzona in Switzerland on the 11th April 2024, tickets available here: https://teatrosociale.ch/Qivittoq-40ed6500

About Andrea Manzoni

Born in 1979, Andrea Manzoni is a pianist, composer, producer and performer, based in Milan. He represents a new generation of pianists who work to create innovative forms of expression, blurring the boundaries between jazz, electronics, rock, and music for film into the emerging “crossover” style. Manzoni indeed leads his classic approach towards a dimension of interaction with an international flavour.

He has performed at theatre such as Carnegie Hall in NYC, Saint Martin in the Fields (London), Auditorium Parco della Musica (Roma), Arts Center (Hong Kong), Acropolium (Carthage), Theatre Municipal (Tunis), Blue Note (Milan) and festivals such as the ISEA2016 (Hong Kong), e- Luminate Festival in Cambridge (UK), Heineken Jamminʼ Festival, on television and on Italian and international radio broadcastings including RSI (Swiss public radio and TV broadcasting), France 2, France Inter, Europe 1 and many others.

Andrea Manzoni has furthermore collaborated with artists such as Aldo Romano, Jan Bang, Lawrence D. “Buch” Morris, and many other.

He has been collaborating with the Teatro Sociale Bellinzona (CH) since 2014 in soundtrack productions for drama performances. In 2023 he won the "Bourses SSA pour les compositeurs de musique de scène". In 2024 he collaborated with award-winning Icelandic producer Valgeir Sigurðsson at Green House Studio in Reykjavik on his second solo record.

Besides his activity as a performer, he works both as a film and radio composer for RSI (SSR SRG Swiss public broadcasting organisation) in the production of radio dramas and in the music recording of soundtracks for worldwide productions broadcasts, theatres and dance companies.

About Rycote

Rycote Microphone Windshields has been developing and delivering the industry standard shock and wind protection for the extremes of field production sound for fifty years. In addition to producing industry-standard shock and wind protection tools, Rycote also offers a range of high-quality microphones, including HC Shotgun Mics and Pencil Microphones, designed to provide precision recording capabilities across a variety of recording environments. The company builds the best field production tools for microphones today, while engineering the tools of the future. Find out more at: https://rycote.com/

About Videndum Media Solutions

Videndum Media Solutions is a division of Videndum plc, an international group of companies serving customers in the growing content creation market. Videndum Media Solutions designs, manufactures, and distributes premium branded photographic and video equipment such as tripods; bags; filters; backgrounds; motion control; lights and microphones for professional and hobbyist photographers and video-makers; and content creators. Positioning Videndum Media Solutions as the leading global provider of accessories within the fast-growing digital multi-media content market, the portfolio includes the following premium brands: Audix; Avenger; Colorama; Gitzo; JOBY; Lowepro; Manfrotto; Rycote; Savage and Syrp Lab. All products are distributed on a direct basis in 11 markets across the world through Videndum Media Distribution, as well as many other markets through a network of qualified retail partners.