Five performers on stage. They are all wearing long black skirts. A flutist, singer, percussionist, and violinist are playing vigorously. Stephanie, the singer has her arm raised over her head, ringing a bell. A dancer stands on risers behind the musicians. Her arm is raised in a similar gesture while she gazes at the singer.

Stephanie in a black bodysuit and long black skirt, singing dramatically. She holds a bell in her left hand.

Stephanie is singing while looking into the distance. Darren is intensely playing the marimba. Anne is standing on risers, her arms stretched out while gazing over her should at Stephanie.

Stephanie singing softly while holding a bell in her left hand.

Anne is kneeling on the floor in front of a marimba. Her black skirt forms a pool around.

Fergus is playing the violin. Stephanie is wearing a black sports bra and smiling while touching the strings of Fergus’s violin. They are both looking at something behind the audience.

Anne is in focus as she stands on the riser behind Stephanie and Darren. She looks annoyed as she observes them play.

Image description: black and white photo of Anne. She has white skin and a shaved head. She's wearing a tight black bodysuit with thumbhole sleeves. Her arms are hovering horizontally, and she is gazing up.

Photography: Robbie McFadzean

IPSA DIXIT by Kate Soper (2023)

"IPSA DIXIT is the feminized form of ipse dixit (literally "he, himself, said it"), a term used to describe a fallacious claim based on the authority of the claimer alone – e.g., "I don't need to prove that what I say is true, it's true because I say so!"

IPSA DIXIT is an evening-length work of chamber music theatre by composer, Kate Soper, that explores the tantalizingly convoluted intersections of music, language, and meaning through a deep interweaving of music and text, complex instrumental textures, contemporary vocal techniques, and blistering ensemble virtuosity. Scored for voice, flute, violin, and percussion, and developed over several years of intense collaboration with the members of Wet Ink, IPSA DIXIT blends elements of monodrama, Greek theatre, and screwball comedy in its examination of the treachery of language and the questionable authenticity of musical expression." (Kate Soper)

A selection of movements from IPSA DIXIT was performed by Stephanie Lamprea in April 2023 for her doctoral studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The performance was co-choreographed and co-staged by Stephanie Lamprea and Anne Kjær.

Credits:

Kate Soper: composer

Stephanie Lamprea: soprano, choreography

Richard Craig: flute

Feargus Hetherington: violin

Darren Gallacher: percussion

Anne Kjær: movement, choreography

IPSA DIXIT is available to tour. Please contact Stephanie Lamprea through her website.

Watch Stephanie Lamprea's doctoral recital of IPSA DIXIT below: