Manchester Collective: SERENITY 2.0 at RNCM

Performing as part of the RNCM’s Inspirational Artists series, Manchester Collective are back with another high contrast programme, pitting shade against light, chaos against serenity, synthetic against organic.

Ever felt overstimulated by your phone? Ben Nobuto’s SERENITY 2.0 may well resonate more than you would wish. This glitched-out collage of frenzied strings, percussion and samples is digital overload in musical form, cycling restlessly through Japanese pop, news anchors, and vocal-fried YouTubers. But the calm after the doomscrolling is worth the ride as a mysterious, holy light slows the pulse, and a blissful calm descends.

SERENITY 2.0 is the centrepiece here, but there’s plenty more to look forward to, including Bryce Dessner’s Aheym – a musical evocation of the idea of flight and passage – and Dobrinka Tabakova’s Insight, which explores playing techniques that transform the sound of a string trio into something different entirely. Seb Gainsborough’s Squint, meanwhile, melds sensual taped vocal parts with instrumental and synthesised sounds, imbued with a sense of storytelling and ancient legend.

Another highlight comes in the form of a world première by musician and DJ Nabihah Iqbal, with the artist making a special guest appearance to perform her work live. Her eclectic approach to art and music has taken her everywhere from Boiler Room raves to the Turner Prize, and her new piece represents yet another creative gear shift. Commissioned by Manchester Collective, What Psyche Felt is Iqbal’s first classical commission, for string quartet and electronics. And it wouldn’t be a Manchester Collective concert without a big finale: Eric Prydz’s colossal house anthem Opus, reimagined.

Testament to the talent that RNCM attracts and nurtures, you’ll find alumni and tutors among the performers in this Manchester Collective line-up. This kind of talent – from the College and far beyond – forms the backbone of a full series that’s currently underway, to which this concert belongs. Inspirational Artists spotlights a huge range of touring musicians and ensembles, each bringing something unique to the stage.

It’s a stunning series, with many exciting concerts to look forward to. Should a number of them appeal, you can take advantage of a multibuy offer, whereby you’ll receive 15% off at least one ticket per event when you book three or more events.