Seven Butterflies is a micro-concert featuring Kaija Saariaho's Sept Pappilons for solo cello and La Monte Young's Composition 1950 #5. 

Sept Papillons, which translates into "seven butterflies," is a seven movement work for solo cello that features ethereal extended techniques evocative of swooping, swarming, or gently fluttering butterflies. Composition 1960 #5 is a text score with the instructions: “Turn a butterfly (or any number of butterflies) loose in the performance area... the composition may be considered finished when the butterfly flies away.”

Though they are an absolute complement to one another, these pieces have never been performed together. Seven Butterflies will be a simultaneous performance of these two works during which a live Monarch Butterfly will perform Composition 1960 #5 while cellist Jennifer Bewerse performs Sept Papillons. The result is a miniaturized concert, fitting of both the delicate nature of the butterflies and their symbolic ephemeralness.

Seven Butterflies will be performed on:

Friday, Oct 9: 2:30pm & 5:00pm

Saturday, Oct 10: 12:00pm & 5:00pm

Sunday, Oct 11: 12:00pm, 3:00pm & 5:00pm

For more information, visit www.lajollaplayhouse.org