© SIMONA BEDNAREK
Musical theater, contemporary percussion
Romanesco Duo
The Third Extended Wheel
A modern musical theater piece for 1 bicycle, 2 performers, and various objects
Two bicycle mechanics set out to repair what appears to be an ordinary bike. But as soon as they begin their work, reality warps, propelling them into a parallel world. There, their bicycle transforms into a futuristic “spacy bike,” setting off an adventure as wild as it is captivating.
Coup de Coeur Award, NICATI Competition 2025
© SIMONA BEDNAREK // © La Pataconera
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Popular Context Show (2022)
The show Popular Context is an assemblage of various pieces of contemporary music and personal compositions, some of which have been rearranged by the duo, with the addition of video, or adapted to be played as a duo.
Popular Context aims to appeal to different audiences, and to take contemporary/experimental music out of its box and make it more accessible, less elitist. The duo is convinced that this music does not require a "warning" from the public, but rather seeks to lead the less knowledgeable to discover a new universe, a different way of thinking about a concert, a different way of approaching written music, and a redefinition of the principle of the instrument.
Romanesco Duo
Romanesco Duo, consisting of musicians Romane Bouffioux and Corentin Barro, is a Swiss experimental music and contemporary percussion group with a strong interest in musical theater and stage composition. The duo is defined by its originality and authenticity. The chemistry between its members is evident in their strong personalities, their whimsical ideas, and their well-timed humor. “It’s better than an MTV show,” declared the renowned composer Matthew Shlomowitz.
Having studied and collaborated with leading figures such as Pierre Sublet and Simon Steen-Andersen (HKB Bern), Françoise Rivalland and Christian Dierstein (IMD, Darmstadt), the duo emerged through their work with composers such as George Aperghis, Thierry de Mey, and Thomas Meadowcroft.
The collaboration with composer Matthew Shlomowitz marked a significant turning point. Indeed, the duo currently focuses on stage composition and creates performances such as *Ils perdent le nord?!*, *The Third Extended Wheel*, and *Salut George!*.
The duo has performed at venues including the Uberschlag Festival (Hanover), the Klimahalle Festival (Bern), Alternatiba & Plein air Voltaire (Geneva), Katapult (Thalwill), the Nicati Competition (Lucerne), and Open Space International Musik Darmstadt (Germany). Romanesco Duo has received support from the Burgergemeinde Bern (Effort Encouragement Award), the City of Geneva (A nous de jouer competition), and the Friedl Wald Foundation, and is a winner of the Swiss Percussion Competition in the Duo category.
