Bitter Visions: By Order of Hildegard

Curated by Florence Carruthers-Andrews and performed by Ololyga

Bitter Visions: By Order of Hildegard is an R&D work inspired by Hildegard von Bingen’s 12th-century morality play Ordo Virtutum. This reimagining invites audiences into an immersive, meditative experience which fuses medieval plainchant with ambient electronic soundscapes.

Bitter Visions follows the demise of the Soul, who becomes estranged from her fellow Virtues after being seduced by the Devil. Through her journey, Ololyga re-examines notions of female desire and virtue, whilst confronting ongoing debates around sexual agency and bodily autonomy. Drawing upon medieval monastic traditions of chant and meditation, Bitter Visions invites audiences into a visceral and immersive sonic experience, channeling Hildegard’s belief in music as a divine and healing force that can bridge body, soul, and cosmos.

The Soul: Florence Carruthers-Andrews