KorSonoR at the Geneva Botanical Garden: Immersive concerts in the temperate greenhouse

In the unique atmosphere of the temperate greenhouse the public will explore, in the context of KorSonoR, the connections between nature and creativity as well as sound in our environment, whether physical, social, memorial, technological, architectural or natural.

No registration required: As space in the temperate greenhouse is limited, entry will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis.

Discover the full programme :

Friday 22 August, 19:00 :MOTO – Études de mouvement (2025) by theEnsemble Batida
The new composition MOTO – Études de mouvement (2025) by the Ensemble Batida , is based on improvisation and a system of variations inspired by the development of organic root patterns, in this case the Roots System Drawings preserved at Wageningen University. The root drawings, of impressive beauty and precision, are like cartographies or organic scores that guide the musical movements of each performer and the ensemble.

Duration : around 60-75 minutes

Saturday 23 August, 16:00 and 19:00:Walter De Maria / Lucas Niggli: Ocean Music (1968) + Cricket Music (1964)
Cricket Music (1964) and Ocean Music (1968) are two pieces composed by Walter De Maria, a major figure in Land Art and minimal art. A drummer, De Maria played with famous musicians in the 1960s and created several minimalist sculptures that also have a sound dimension. His two compositions are also minimalist, and the recorded sounds of crickets and the ocean attest to an interest in repetitive and rhythmic musical motifs as well as in natural environments, terrain, water, and sky, which are central to his practice of “earth art,” notably in Lightning Field (1977). In 2024, Lucas Niggli reconstructed the recordings that accompany the drum score in each of these pieces.

Duration : around 60 minutes

Sunday 24 August, 15:00:Robin Meier Wiratunga: The Mind-Body Problem
Robin Meier Wiratunga’s The Mind-Body Problem – specifically designed for the context of KorSonoR at the Geneva Botanical Garden – will take the form of a meeting with neuroscientist Sophie Schwartz, professor at the Center for Affective Science at the University of Geneva, on the observation of dreams in animals, which raises the question of animal consciousness. The artist will play live sounds to provide a more concrete introduction to this subject, which is as scientifically complex as it is stimulating to the imagination. In a second phase, the sound will be broadcast so that visitors can listen to it while reclining on deckchairs or strolling through the greenhouse.

Duration : around 90 minutes

Sunday 24 August, 17:00 :Julie Semoroz, Phonosynthèse
With Phonosphère, Julie Semoroz aims to bring the greenhouse to life through sound, addressing her performance to the living beings present: plants, animals, and the human audience. This sensory experience, where nature and technology meet and specifically designed for the context of KorSonoR at the Geneva Botanical Garden, will transform the space into a moving sound ecosystem composed of field recordings gathered by the artist around the world, voices, and electronics.

Duration : around 60 minutes