Lawrence Power releases Chaconne video with dancer and singer

Lawrence Power has released the first video with his new production company Âme, which he recently formed with video maker Jessie Rodger to bring together different art forms on film.

In 64 Variations, he performs Bach's Chaconne on the viola, accompanied by dancer Sharia Johnson and singer Héloïse Werner, filmed in the atmospheric surroundings of London's Barge House.

He explains: 'Musicologists have presented compelling material about Bach's references and use of symbology and you can overlay chorales on to various bass lines, as if with tracing paper. Héloïse sings the chorales that are quoted throughout the Chaconne. Bach's wife had just died when he wrote the work and on the title page of the sonatas and partitas, he actually writes 'Sei Solo', which means 'You are alone', rather than 'Sei Soli', which would mean 'Six Solos'. The Chaconne is clearly a requiem for his wife, although it's become an iconic piece – for good and bad. Performing it on the viola is already a bit different, and working with Sharia brings a wonderful sense of motion and physicality to the screen.'

The new film follows Lawrence's work with Jessie on his Lockdown Commissions project, in which they filmed specially composed music in empty performing venues, with composers including Huw Watkins, Garth Knox, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Cassandra Miller, Martyn Brabbins and William Marsey.