The Shed Announces 'Cornucopia,' a New Concert from Björk, Featuring Icelandic Flute Ensemble Viibra

Alex Poots, Artistic Director and CEO of The Shed, today announced Cornucopia, a new concert production conceived and performed by Björk and directed by John Tiffany. Cornucopia will receive its world premiere at The Shed in spring 2019 as part of its inaugural season (dates to be announced), in its largest space, The McCourt.

"i am very excited to announce that i will be part of The Shed's opening season in manhattan next spring. this winter i will prepare my most elaborate stage concert yet, where the acoustic and digital will shake hands, encouraged by a bespoke team of collaborators," said Björk.

"This is Bjork's first-ever production created with theatrical collaborators," said Alex Poots. "We are honored and excited to be producing this new work at The Shed."

Media artist Tobias Gremmler will create the digital visual design in an environment created by stage designer Chloe Lamford.

Viibra, a seven-piece female Icelandic flute ensemble including Melkorka Ólafsdóttir, Áshildur Haraldsdóttir, Berglind María Tómasdóttir, Steinunn Vala Pálsdóttir, Björg Brjánsdóttir, Þuríður Jónsdóttir, and Emilía Rós Sigfúsdóttir, with Katie Buckley (harp), Manu Delago, (percussion) and Bergur Þórisson (electronics), will join Björk on stage for her performances at The Shed.

Cornucopia's creative team also includes Margrét Bjarnadóttir, choreography; Bruno Poet, lighting design; Iris Van Herpen, costume design; Gareth Fry, sound design; John Gale, sound engineering; and the artist James Merry.

Further details and on-sale dates for tickets will be announced later this year.

Björk is a multidisciplinary artist who, time and again, innovates across music, art, fashion, and technology. From writing, arranging, and producing an expansive music catalog, to escapades in virtual reality and digital apps, Björk continues to inspire and experiment, redefining the boundaries of how a musician works.

John Tiffany's recent credits include Pinocchio for the National Theatre and Road for the Royal Court. He also directed the musical Once, receiving a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical, The Glass Menagerie, Let The Right One In, and Black Watch, for which he won an Olivier Award for Best Director. For his work on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, John received an Olivier and Tony Award for Best Director of a Play

Tobias Gremmler is a media artist who interconnects his work with dance, music, and architecture. His artworks have been exhibited at Ars Electronica, V&A, and shown in theaters around the world. He has taught at universities in Europe, the United States, and Asia, and has published several books on digital design.

Chloe Lamford is a renowned stage designer, working in theater, opera, music, and installation. She trained in Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art and received the Arts Foundation Fellowship for Design for Performance 2013. She is Associate Designer at the Royal Court Theatre, London, and a resident of Somerset House Studios. Chloe recently created The Site at the Royal Court Theatre, a temporary theater space, and installation with five curated plays written in response to provocations and the space itself.

James Merry is a visual artist from the U.K. now based in Iceland, where he has been living and working with Björk since 2009. He has been a frequent collaborator and co-creative director with Björk on visuals, most recently in the role as mask-maker. creating bespoke headpieces for a number of live and video performances. Outside of his work with Björk, he is primarily known for his hand embroidery and has collaborated with institutions such as the V&A, Gucci, ShowStudio, and Opening Ceremony.

Opening in spring 2019 where the High Line meets Hudson Yards on Manhattan's west side, The Shed commissions original works of art, across all disciplines, for all audiences. From hip hop to classical music, painting and sculpture to literature, film to theater and dance, The Shed will bring together leading artists and thinkers from all disciplines under one roof. The building-a remarkable movable structure designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Rockwell Group-physically transforms to support artists' most ambitious ideas. Committed to nurturing artistic invention and bringing creative experiences to the broadest possible audiences, The Shed, led by Artistic Director and CEO Alex Poots, is a 21st-century space of and for New York City.

Photo Credit: Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones