Alexander Balanescu and Ada Milea: The Island Presented in Association with the Romanian Cultural Institute

Show Description

“A memorable experience… These two performers remind us that serious music can be presented with warmth and humour” - Paul Medley, Oxford Times

“The show reminds us of Bob Dylan’s folk or the asymmetries of Laurie Anderson’s music.” – Iulia Blaga, Romania libera

Inspired by the classic Robinson Crusoe story, but with a twist, “The Island” is song-cycle based on the work of Romanian surrealist poet Gellu Naum. Robinson is now a haunted recluse stuck on an island full of lunatics.

This one-night only concert brings together for the first time in New York an incredible duo of Romanian artists who got together especially to create this show - performer Ada Milea, and UK based violinist and composer Alexander Balanescu.  Created and performed in English, “The Island” engages the audience in a surrealist musical-theatre journey, with a powerful narrative and a continuous and alert back and forth between guitar, violin and voice that bring to life an array of characters the artists are casting each other in.