What does a painting sound like? - Manchester Collective asked themselves and developed a meditative sound journey, representing the work of painter Mark Rothko, based on Morton Feldman's 30-minute work "Rothko Chapel". Three newly commissioned pieces by Isobel Waller-Bridge, Katherine Balch and Edmund Finnis complemented the Feldman, sharing their auditory interpretations of various Rothko works.

The ensemble, consisting of a string quartet under the direction of Rakhi Singh, a celesta and percussion, was accompanied by the English SANSARA choir. SANSARA opened the programme with Arvo Pärt's "Solfeggio", which immediately set the mood for the evening.

Manchester Collective would not be Manchester Collective if they left it at this elaborate programme - a light installation hovered above the ensemble, reminiscent of the octagonal Rothko Chapel in Houston, adding to the almost sacred feeling that musicians and audience shared that evening.

The programme was presented at Southbank Centre London (05.05.), at Erholungshaus Leverkusen as part of the stARTfestival (07.05.), at de Singel Antwerp (08.05.) and in the ensemble's stomping grounds, at Bridgewater Hall Manchester (10.05.) and was highly praised by the audience and press everywhere.

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