Reveiws
"an intoxicating and intimate passion play of sound, song, movement, and video" The Guardian, UK
"A multi-media song-cycle, which has been captivating audiences across the United Kingdom", "spellbinding...." Manchester Evening News
"An operatic treat" London Metro
"This is a totally engaging way of experiencing music....not just the visual and special elements of the work but the way in which the performers are treating music as a form of theatre, an expression of their own emotion.........The lush romantic melancholy of Wyer's score is ravishing and the two musicians perform it responding to each other like lovers" Rogues and vagabonds, London
"... pushes the music theatre envelope....." The Guardianjust so good"
'Pick of the week.." The Guardian
SharpWire have been hailed as one of the most original acts in years, combining breath-taking physical, vocal and instrumental virtuosity.
A short history
The two met originally in London in 2000, when Matt (and other members of 'The Gogmagogs') joined PeteÕs band 'Cinnamon skin' for a jam. Subsequently, Matt both sang and played cello for PeteÕs ballet score ÔImbalanceÕ in 2001 (Phrenic New Ballet, Choreographer Jessica Lang) and from there came the first rumblings of SharpWire.
After gaining a commission for 6 short new works from the Performing Rights Society Foundation in 2002, they gave concert performances at The Poetry Society, Covent Garden and at Battersea Arts Centre (BAC).
Following this, BAC offered development time and space for their summer opera festival. After an intensive fortnight of work at BAC, SharpWire emerged with a ÔscratchÕ version of the show ÔAdamÕs AppleÕ, which was performed at BAC in August 2003. Later the same year, ÔAdamÕs AppleÕ was nominated and selected for the ÔThis Way UpÕ tour - an Arts Council funded initiative to take groundbreaking theatre to regions of the UK.
In January 2004 SharpWire began work to produce a finished version of ÔAdamÕs AppleÕ with film-maker Tobin Rothlein and choreographer/dancer Amanda Miller. The completed show went on to tour the UK in March 2004 and returned to BAC for performances at the May Opera Festival and for a further 3 week run in August.
An album of the music from 'Adam's Apple' was released in May 2004. We hope to make it available through this web site. Please email us if you would like a copy. Current News The show now makes itÕs debut in America, at the Live Arts Festival, Philadelphia on September 10th and 12th. Matt and Pete also appear live in interview with John Schaefer on ÔNew SoundsÕ, WNYC, New York on September 16th. A new show is currently in development (with the assistance of BAC and Opera North) - SharpWire are currently developing a new show for preview at Battersea Arts Centre in May 2005.
SharpWire
Matthew Sharp - Pete M Wyer