My Secret Heart is a commission by Streetwise Opera (www.streetwiseopera.org) of a music and film installation written by electronic composer and Warp artist Mira Calix, video artists Flat-e and sound designer Dave Sheppard. They worked with around 100 Streetwise performers from across the UK to create a unique work that is being shown around the world.
The piece is inspired by the Allegri’s 17th-century choral work Miserere Mei, a piece so protected by the Vatican that they put an embargo on it. Mira Calix and Flat-e have used the theme of secrecy to explore movements and singing with Streetwise’s participants to create this new century-leaping work.
The piece exists as an immersive installation on a purpose-built 360 degree screen with surround sound and as a 7-minute film. The installation was premiered live at the Royal Festival Hall in Dec 2008 including a staging featuring a cast of 100. The work then toured to galleries, festivals and cinemas across the world from 2009 as an installation and film reaching an audience of over 200,000.
‘Inspired and inspiring’
Guardian (4 stars)
‘Mesmerising’
Sir Sean Connery, Edinburgh International Film Festival
Winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award (Audience Development)
Winner of a British Composer Award (for composer Mira Calix)
