Borut Kržišnik Explained

Borut Kržišnik
Origin:	Ljubljana, Slovenia
Years Active:	1980–present

Borut Kržišnik (1961, Zagreb) is a Slovenian composer.

Biography

In his early life, the family lived in Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia (which were part of federal republic of Yugoslavia at the time) and Romania. When he was two years old his father was appointed as the Yugoslavian diplomatic attache in Bucharest When he turned 6, they moved to Belgrade, where he spent his early childhood. They moved to Ljubljana in 1973.^[1]

He began his musical education with the piano and attended a music school during his stay in Belgrade. After moving to Ljubljana, he quit music school, started playing guitar as a self-taught and building his unique compositional language throughout the 1980s. He received a degree in psychology from the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana in 1987.^{[2] [3]}

Collaborations

Borut Krzisnik has composed music for films, dance and theatre performances, and other productions. He worked intensely with British film director Peter Greenaway and wrote the score for films The Moab Story,^[4] Vaux to the Sea^[5] and A Life in Suitcases.^[6] The former two are the first and the second film of the trilogy The Tulse Luper Suitcases and the latter is trilogy's integral version.

The films narrate the stories of the life of Tulse Luper, the alter ego of the director himself, which intertwines with the events that marked the turbulent history of the twentieth century. An interesting fact that describes Greenaway's working process and his approach to music is that the composer is asked to compose the music before the start of shooting the film, and not after shooting and editing, as is usually the case. In this manner, Peter Greenaway analyzes the music before the start of the filming, wich enables him to synchronize the whole process of shooting with the drive and development of the music.^[2]
The films were presented at numerous international film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Rotterdam, Tribeca, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Philadelphia, Hong Kong, Moscow and Edinburgh.

Kržišnik's collaboration with Greenaway also includes the following projects: The Greenaway Alphabet^[7] (documentary film, director: Saskia Boddeke, acting: Peter Greenaway), Reitdiep Joureys^[8] (documentary film/multimedia), Gold – 92 bars in a broken car^[9] (theater performance, director: Saskia Boddeke, libretto: Peter Greenaway), Grand Terp (“site-specific” installation), Sex and the Sea^{[10] [11]} (multimedia installation), Compton Verney^[12] (installation) and Map to Paradise^[13] (installation).

In 2000 he started the collaboration with British-American-Brazilian theater and opera director Gerald Thomas. In the plays Nietzsche Contra Wagner^{[14] [15] [16]} (SESC, São Paulo, 2000) and Anchorpectoris – United States of the Mind^{[17] [18]} (La MaMa, New York, 2004), music drives both performances, and by fusing different theatrical languages, co-creates Thomas’ outrageous, physical, absolute theater.

In 2007 the prolific collaboration with the Romanian born Slovenian choreographer Edward Clug started with the performance Sacre du Temps.^{[19] [20]} It opened in Tilburg and shortly afterwards toured Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. The collaboration continued with three performances: Skitzen^[21] (2010), Divine Comedy^{[22] [23]} (2011) and Songs for the Mating Season^{[24] [25]} – Homage to Stravinsky (2012).

In the 90s he worked closely with theater director Emil Hrvatin (later renamed to Janez Janša) and British director Julie Anne Robinson, who were present on European theatre stages in at the Picollo Teatro in Milan, the Bush Theatre and the Royal National Theatre (educational programe) in London.

His collaborations also include the following artists: Thomas Noone, Ana Lujan Sanchez, Katarzyna Kozielska, Stefanie Nelson, Natalia Horecna, Isabelle Kralj, Felice Lesser, Josh Beamish, Virpi Pahkinen, Gyula Berger, Vinko Möderndorfer, Bojan Jablanovec, Borghesia and Laibach.

Awards

• Vesna prize for best film music at Slovenian Film Festival in 2008 (for the film Landscape No2)^[26]
• 1st prize at the Napoli Danza Festival in 1994 (for the art-video Labyrinth)

Opus

Albums

• Utopia – Claudio Records, UK, 2024
• Dancing Machine – Claudio Records, UK, 2020
• Lightning – Claudio Records, UK, 2013
• Valse Brutal – Claudio Records, UK, 2014 (KUD France Prešeren, 2009)
• Sacre du Temps – Claudio Records, 2013, UK (Station Zuid, Tilburg, 2007)
• A Life in Suitcases – Claudio Records, 2012 UK (First Name Soundtracks, London, 2006; KUD France Prešeren, 2005)
• Stories from Magatrea – Claudio Records, 2014, UK (Falcata-Galia Recordings, Realto, 1999, for Slovenia: KUD France Prešeren, Ljubljana, 1997)
• La Dolce Vita – Claudio Records, 2015 UK (FV, Ljubljana / Discordia, Willich, 1995)
• Currents of Time – Claudio Records, 2014 UK (ReR Megacorp, Point East, London, 1991; re-release: Tone Casualties, Hollywood, 1998)

Music for dance

• Fill in the Blank – contemporary dance performance, concept: Stefanie Nelson, choreography: Maya Orchin, Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup, New York, 2023^[27]
• Trap Ist – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Felice Lesser, Felice Lesser Dance Company, New York, 2023^[28]
• Metamorphosis – dance/theatre performance, directed and choreographed: Isabelle Kralj and Mark Anderson, Theatre Gigante, Milwaukee, 2018^[29]
• Take Your Pleasure Seriously – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Katarzyna Kozielska, Stuttgart Ballet, 2018^[30]
• Lightning – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Felice Lesser, Felice Lesser Dance Company, New York, 2017^[31]
• The Death That Best Preserves – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Natalia Horecna, The Royal Danish Theatre, Kobenhavn, 2015^[32]
• Waltz Epoca (Restless Creature) – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Joshua Beamish, New York, 2014^[33]
• Catch – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Ana Lujan Sanchez, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds, 2012^[34]
• Songs for the mating season (Hommage a Stravinsky) – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Edward Clug, SNG Maribor, 12 April 2012
• Korona – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Virpi Pahkinen, Finish National Opera and Ballet, Helsinki, 19 May 2011^[35]
• Divine Comedy – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Edward Clug, Bitef teatar in Budva grad teatar, 30 Jun 2011
• State celebration for the Independence day – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Edward Clug, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, 2011
• Glitch – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Thomas Noone, Thomas Noone Dance, Barcelona 2010^[36]
• Sketches – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Edward Clug, Opera Graz, 11 June 2010
• The Merry Metronomes – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Gyula Berger, Zero Balet, Budimpešta, 2010^[37]
• Proximity Spiral – contemporary dance performance (3 compositions), choreography: Stefanie Nelson, Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup, 19 March 2010^[38]
• The Tragedy of Maria Macabre – contemporary dance performance (1 composition), choreography: Rechel Klein, New York, 2010
• Sacre du Temps – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Edward Clug, Station Zuid, Tilburg, 2007
• File not Found – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Massimiliano Volpini, Bienale Zagreb, 2005^[39]
• I still don’t know – contemporary dance performance, choreography: Isabelle Kralj, SNG Opera and ballet Ljubljana, 2005^[40]

Music for film

• The Greenaway Alphabet – documentary film, directed: Saskia Bodekke, BEELD/NTR, 2017
• Family album – documentary film, directed: Nishtha Jain, Raintree films, India, 2011^[41]
• Landscape No.2 – feature film, directed: Vinko Möderndorfer, Forum Ljubljana, 2008^[42]
• Paper Prince – feature film, director: Marko Kostić, Luksfilm, 2007^[43]
• Impression of a Great City – documentary film, directed: Amir Muratović, Slovenija, 2009^[44]
• Fabiani Plečnik – documentary film, directed: Amir Muratović, RTS, 2006^[45]
• A Life in Suitcases – feature film, directed: Peter Greenaway, Kasander Film, 2005
• The Moab Story (1st part of the trilogy The Tulse Luper Suitcases) – feature film, directed: Peter Greenaway, Kasander Film, 2003
• Vaux to the See (2nd part of the trilogy The Tulse Luper Suitcases) – feature film, directed: Peter Greenaway, Kasander Film, 2004
• The Reitdiep Journeys – documentary film, directed: Peter Greenaway, Dutch TV, 2001

Music for theatre

• Um Tartufo – theatre performance, directed: Bruce Gomlewski, CIA Teatro Esplendor, Rio de Janeiro, 2018^[46]
• She Who Remains Nameless – eclectic theatre performance, directed: Vlado Repnik, Kino Šiška, 2 October 2017^[47]
• Nein – theatre performance, director: Vlado Gotvan, Kino Šiška, 19 September 2016^[48]
• A Few Messages to the Universe – theatre performance, directed: Sebastjan Horvat, SNG Drama, 25 April 2014^[49]
• Pilowman (O Homem Travesseiro) – theatre performance, directed: Bruce Gomlevsky, Rio de Janeiro, 2011
• Anchorpectoris – theatre performance, directed: Gerald Thomas, La MaMa, New York, 6 March 2004
• Gold, 92 Golden Bars in the Crashed Car – theatre performance, directed: Saskia Boddeke, written: Peter Greenaway, Schaushpiel Frankfurt, 2001
• Nietzsche Contra Wagner – theatre performance, directed: Gerald Thomas, SESC, São Paulo, 2000
• Drive in Camillo – theatre performance, directed: Emil Hrvatin, Maska, Ljubljana, 2000^[50]
• Camillo – theatre performance, directed: Emil Hrvatin, Picollo Teatro, Milano, 7 May 1998^[51]
• Two Gentlemen of Verona – theatre performance, directed: Julie-Anne Robinson, Royal National Theatre, London 5 May 1999^[52]
• Yard – theatre performance, directed: Julie-Anne Robinson, Bush Theatre, London, 1998^[53]
• Romeo and Juliet – theatre performance, directed: Julie-Anne Robinson, C.F.T.C., Birmingham, 1996
• The New Organon – theatre performance, directed: Emil Hrvatin, Društvo 51, 11 June 1994^[54]
• The Woman Who Talks Incessantly – theatre performance, directed: Emil Hrvatin, Inart, 30 January 1993^[55]
• Romulus Veliki – theatre performance, directed: Bojan Jablanovec, Municipal Theatre, 12 March 1998^[56]
• Breakfast on the Lawn – theatre performance, directed & choreography: Nataša Kos, Maska, Ljubljana and Danswerkplaats, Amsterdam, 1 October 1994^[57]
• Hey, Salvador – theatre performance, directed: Matjaž Pograjc, Glej Theatre, 19 October 1991^[58]

Music for intermedia projects, performances, instalations and exhibitions

• O – Project O, AV performance, Kiblix, KID Kibla, 2022, Maribor^[59]
• Shelters of Babylon – Project O, AV performance, Kiblix, KID Kibla, 2017, Maribor^[60]
• Sex and the Sea – installation by Peter Greenaway and Saskia Boddeke, Maritiem Museum, Rotterdam, 2013
• Compton Verney – performance, directed: Peter Greenaway, U.K., 2004
• Coordinates of Sound – Project O, video-audio-dance performance, series: Coordinates of sound: 11, Pritličje, Ljubljana, 19 April 2017^[61]
• Beyond – to the Freedom – Project O, video-audio-dance performance, Kino Šiška, 24 January 2017^[62]
• O – Project O, video-audio-dance performance, Cirkulacija 2, Ljubljana, 2016
• Grand Terp in Groningen – exhibition/installation, directed: Peter Greenaway, Kasander Film, Groningen, 2001
• Map to Paradise – exhibition / installation, directed: Peter Greenaway, Museum, Ljubljana, 2000
• The Labyrinth – art-video, directed: Marina Gržinič & Aina Šmid, RTV Slovenia, 1993

Compilations

• Dancing/Listening – Unknown Public, London, 2003
• Music fot the Next Century – Tone Casualties, 1999
• Trans Slovenia Express Vol.1 – Dallas, Ljubljana, 1994

Live performances

• Love Song No.1 – Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmony, conductor: Marko Letonja, Cankarjev dom, 1998
• Questions – Enzo Fabiani quartet, Š.O.U. Ljubljana, 1997
• Fire – electronic performance, Narodni dom, Maribor, 2007

External links

• Official website
• Claudio Records

Notes and References

1. Krzisnik. Borut. Patricija Maličev. 14 September 2013. Je šepet, ki preglasi glasen orkester, nemuzikalen? [Is a whisper overriding a loud orchestra unmusical?]]. sl. Delo. Sobotna priloga. Ljubljana.
2. Kržišnik. Borut. Vesna Milek. Zame je narava tudi kandelaber čez cesto [Streetlight across the street is also part of nature]]. 14 June 2003. Delo. Sobotna priloga. Ljubljana. http://www.dlib.si/?URN=URN:NBN:SI:DOC-WH2E11MY. 20 April 2020. limited.
3. Kržišnik. Borut. Janko Petrovec. Neobvezno v nedeljo: Borut Kržišnik [Easy on Sunday: Borut Kržišnik]]. Neobvezno v nedeljo. Radio Slovenija, 1. Program. 2 June 2013. 20:00–22:00. RTV SLO. sl.
4. Web site: The Moab Story . 2003 . www.imdb.com . IMDb.
5. Web site: Vaux to the Sea . 2005 . www.imdb.com . IMDb.
6. Web site: A Life in Suitcases . 2005 . www.imdb.com . IMDb.
7. Web site: The Greenaway Alphabet . 2017 . www.imdb.com . IMDb.
8. Web site: The Reitdiep Journeys . 2001 . www.youtube.com . Youtube.
9. Web site: Gold, 92 Golden Bars in the Crashed Car . 2001 . www.sbpg-projects.com . sbpg-projects.
10. Web site: Sex & The Sea . Greenaway . Peter . Boddeke . Saskia . 12 September 2013 . www.youtube.com/@MaritiemMuseum . Maritiem Museum, Rotterdam.
11. Web site: Sex & the Sea .
12. Web site: Luper at Compton Verney . Greenaway . Peter . 27 March – 31 October 2004 . www.comptonverney.org.uk/art . Compton Verney.
13. Web site: Map to Paradise . Greenaway . Peter . 2000 . www.muzeum.si . Museum .
14. Web site: Ópera leva Gerald Thomas ao instinto . Opera takes Gerald Thomas to instinct . 20 July 2000 . www.folha.uol.com.br . Folha de Sao Paulo . Portuguese (Brazilian).
15. Web site: "N x W" acaba em vitória triste da música sobre o discurso . "N x W" ends in a sad victory of music over discourse . 22 July 2000 . www.folha.uol.com.br . Folha de Sao Paulo . Portuguese (Brazilian).
16. Web site: O Estado de S. Paulo - Acervo Estadão .
17. Web site: Anchorpectoris (The United States of the Mind) . 10 March 2004 . www.uol.com.br . Uol . subscription.
18. Web site: Folha de S.Paulo - Contardo Calligaris: Os Estados Desunidos da mente - 11/03/2004 .
19. Web site: Borut Kržišnik je v glasbo ujel čas . Borut Kržišnik captured time in music . Slovenščina . 11 January 2008 . Kultura . www.rtvslo.si . RTV Slovenija .
20. Web site: Sacre du Temps . 3 October 2008 . youtube.com . Danshuis Station Zuid.
21. Web site: Meeting Maribor . 1 April 2011 . veza.sigledal.org/ . Sigledal.
22. Web site: Clugovo prebiranje Dantejeve Božanske komedije in današnjega časa . 30 June 2012 . www.rtvslo.si/kultura . RTV SLO.
23. Web site: Multipraktični koreograf Edward Clug ponovno v božanskem stanju . Podboj . Daliborka . 25 July 2012 . www.paradaplesa.si . Parada plesa.
24. Web site: Songs for the mating season . 9 April 2016 . www.mbz.hr . Muzički bienale Zagreb.
25. Web site: Se bo Edward Clug približal veličastnemu Nižinskemu, Bejartu in Bauschevi? . Melita . Goljevšček . 12 April 2012 . www.paradaplesa.si . Parada plesa.
26. Web site: 11. Festival slovenskega filma, Portorož. 15 October 2024.
27. Web site: Stefani Nelson Dancegroup and David Shenk present the Moving Memory project: fill in the blank. 6 October 2023. www.newyorksocialdiary.com. New York Social Diary, New York.
28. Web site: Felice Lesser Damce Theater in TRAPIST. 30 September 2022. newyorklivearts.org. New York Live Arts.
29. Web site: In Gigante's 'Metamorphosis,' life squashes salesman like a bug. Fischer. Mike. 30 September 2022. eu.jsonline.com. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
30. Web site: The Fab Five: Katarzyna Kozielska. 19 March 2018. stuttgartballet.wordpress.com. The Stuttgart Ballet.
31. Web site: Interview: Choreographer Felice Lesser on How the Election Shaped Her Multimedia Dance Work "Lightning". Turney. Kathryn. 9 February 2017. stagebuddy.com. Stage Buddy.
32. Web site: Short Time Together. Koreografi: Natalia Horecna, Idan Sharabi og Sol León og Paul Lightfoot. Krarup. Anna. 7 October 2015. www.peripeti.dk. Peripeti.
33. Web site: Restless Creature. Jowitt. Deborah. 16 August 2013. www.artsjournal.com/dancebeat/. Arts Journal.
34. Web site: Catch. February 2012. www.phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk/. Phoenix Dance Theatre.
35. Web site: Corona. 19 May 2011. pahkinen.com/.
36. Web site: Glitch / Bound. 27 May 2011. danceweekfestival.com/. Hrvatski Institut za pokret i ples.
37. Web site: The Merry Metronomes. 21 December 2009. Youtube. Eszter Csepeli.
38. Web site: Proximity Spiral. 19 March 2010. oberon481.typepad.com. Oberon’s Groove.
39. Web site: File Not Found. 24 April 2005. mbz.hr/. Music Biennale Zagreb.
40. Web site: Balet po sodobno. Mager. Ingrid. 5 November 2005. www.dnevnik.si. Dnevnik.
41. Web site: Family Album. 2011. www.imdb.com. IMDb.
42. Web site: Landscape No.2. 2008. www.imdb.com. IMDb.
43. Web site: Paper Prince. 2007. www.imdb.com. IMDb.
44. Web site: Impression of a Great City. 2009. bsf.si. BSF.
45. Web site: Fabiani:Plecnik. 2006. www.imdb.com. IMDb.
46. Web site: Cia. Teatro Esplendor estreia versão online de 'Um Tartufo', espetáculo indicado aos prêmios Shell e Cesgranrio. Cia. Teatro Esplendor premieres online version of ‘Um Tartufo’, a show nominated for the Shell and Cesgranrio awards. 22 October 2021. rioencena.com. Rio Encena. Brazilian Portuguese.
47. Web site: She Who Remains Nameless. 2 October 2017. www.kinosiska.si/en. Kino Šiška.
48. Web site: Nein. 19 September 2016. veza.sigledal.org. Sigledal.
49. Web site: Nekaj sporočil za vesolje. A Few Messages to the Universe. 25 April 2014. veza.sigledal.org. Sigledal. Slovenščina.
50. Web site: Drive in Camillo. 22 July 2000. maska.si. Maska.
51. Web site: Camillo. 1998. www.piccoloteatro.org/en. Piccolo Teatro.
52. Web site: Two Gentlemen of Verona. 1999. theatricalia.com. Theatricalia.
53. Web site: Yard. October 1998. kaiteoreilly.com. Bush Theatre.
54. Web site: Novi Organon. The New Organon. 11 June 1994. veza.sigledal.org/. Društvo 51. Slovenščina.
55. Web site: Ženska, ki nenehno govori. The Woman Who Talks Incessantly. 30 January 1993. repertoar.sigledal.org/. Inart. Slovenščina.
56. Web site: Romulus Veliki. Romulus the Great. 12 March 1998. repertoar.sigledal.org/. Municipal Theatre. Slovenščina.
57. Web site: Zajtrk v travi. Breakfast on the Lawn. 1 October 1994. repertoar.sigledal.org/. Maska (Ljubljana) and Danswerkplaats (Amsterdam). Slovenščina.
58. Web site: Hey, Salvador. 19 October 1991. repertoar.sigledal.org/. Glej Theatre. Slovenščina.
59. Web site: O. Project O. Migav. 1 September 2022. www.mcruk.si /. Network of Art and Cultural Research Centres. Slovenščina.
60. Web site: Shelters of Babilon. Project O. 14 November 2017. www.kibla.org. Kibla. Slovenščina.
61. Web site: Coordinates of sound: 11. Project O. 14 November 2017. www.pritlicje.si. Pritličje. Slovenščina.
62. Web site: Beyond – to the Freedom. Project O. 26 January 2017. www.kinosiska.si. Kino Šiška. Slovenščina.