Performances by cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton

A child prodigy who grew up in San Francisco and Paris, Sonia Wieder-Atherton went into voluntary exile in the USSR to study under cellist Natalia Shakhovskaya. Her life path has always been a singular one, a musical quest often also pursued through images and words.

Until her meeting with Wieder-Atherton, Akerman had steadfastly refused to include music in her films; but seeing her work, interpret, explore and take risks in order to push back the limits of her playing was a revelation. The two lived and worked together: Wieder-Atherton composed the music for a number of Akerman's films, and Akerman filmed her in concert and on her travels through Eastern Europe in search of her musical roots.

Sonia Wieder-Atherton has decided to move into the exhibition with her cello. Like a "25th screen" – the reference is to the 24 screens making up D'Est [From the East] – she will make discreet appearances in one of the exhibition rooms, playing solos for small groups of visitors. Alternating and interacting with the screenings of Saute ma ville, the pieces played here testify to the growing importance of music in Akerman's oeuvre. They have been chosen from among her favourites and Wieder-Atherton's compositions for her works.