Charlotte Hug

musician (viola & voice, electronics), composer, media artist, visual artist,
was born in Zurich in 1965. She lives in Zurich and on the road.

She completed her studies in fine arts and music and received various distinctions and commissions. She worked as “artist in residence” in London, Paris, Cork capital of culture in 2005 and Berlin and was awarded the city of Zurich prize for composition in 2006. In 2011 Hug is “artiste étoile” at the Lucerne Festival.

She is known for her solo performances in distinctive locations such as the ice tunnels of the Rhône glacier, the half demolished bunker in Berlin Humboldthain, the House of Detention, a 250 year old former prison in Farringdon in London, the hot healing sulphur springs beneath the former luxury hotel of Verenahof in Baden, Switzerland or the dockyard in Coph on the Irish Atlantic coast.

Hug seeks to develop instrumental techniques to their fullest possible extent, which includes the
“soft bow technique”, by means of which she can play up to eight voices on her instrument. She plays a viola made by J.G. Thir in 1763. She also specializes in combining the sounds of viola and voice. What has resulted is an unmistakable and distinct tonal language.

In the visual arena, as well as in the musical context, her sound-drawings: “Son-Icons” have found international recognition. Hug also composes with graphic musical notation. These have resulted in spatial and video scores range of works from solo to orchestra pieces. Solo exhibitions at the Cité internationale des Arts Paris,
at the Kunstkeller Bern, Swissnex San Francisco, the Sirius Arts Centre Cobh Cork Ireland and the
Musuem of Art Luzern.

Collaborations with the photographer and film maker Alberto Venzago, Institute for Computer music and Sound Technology. She collaborates with performers such as Joan Jeanrenaud, Maggie Nicols, Barry Guy, Phil Minton, Larry Ochs, Elliott Sharp etc. Extensive discography.

Hug gives lectures and master classes on improvisation, scenic music and performance, graphic notation and room installations, for example at the MC Gill University Montreal, ETH Zurich, the Hochschule für Gestaltung & Kunst in Basel, the University of British Columbia Vancouver and Victoria and CNMAT Centre for New Music and Audio Technologies UC Berkeley. Since 2008 she has held a post of lecturer at the Zurich University of the Arts.

Alongside her activities in international exhibitions, Hug is also fully active as a concert performer, soloist, composer and conductor of her own works at major festivals in Europe, the USA and Canada. www.charlotthug.ch

„by reinterpreting her own drawings “Son-Icons” made on site – with extraordinary results.
So far the sonic potential of the viola has remained unexplored. Not any more.”
DAN WARBURTON – PARISTRANSATLANTIC

Recordings (a selection of over 30 CDs of Hug’s own compositions and improvised music on
international labels)

Slipway to Galaxies Charlotte Hug, solo viola & voice  (2011) Ireland – Switzerland EMAMEM 5018 / London
Fine extensions Hug & Lonberg-Holm (2010) / Chicago - Zurich EMANEM 5012 / London
Gocce stellari –Wachsmann, Hug, Mattos, Edwards (2009) / London EMANEM 5006 / London
Pi:k – Sharp & Hug (2008) / New York - Zurich EMANEM 4143 / London
Neuland – Viola solo (2003/ London - Zurich ) EMANEM 4085 / London
Transitions – Nicols, Kraabel, Hug (2002) EMANEM 4068 / London
MauerrauM WandrauM – viola solo & electronics (1999) CD STV002 / Schweiz

Bio (pdf)