(Credit: Zhen Qin)

Opening its 20th season, the International Contemporary Ensemble will perform two new stagings of Pulitzer Prize-winner Du Yun’s “A Cockroach’s Tarantella” and “Zolle” at NYU Skirball on April 29 and 30.

Du Yun along with director Roscha A. Säidow, Satomi Matsuzaki, and the International Contemporary Ensemble curated these new versions of the pieces to be staged and presented back-to-back, specifically in the NYU Skirball.

The composer discussed how the pieces flow together. In a press release, Du Yun said, they complement each other through the “exploration of the human soul and the seeking of answers on the topic of identity and heritage – A Cockroach’s Tarantella as the “life-before” and Zolle the “after-life.” She adds “these works together probe humankind’s ubiquitous fascination with movement and alienation, amidst the hope of belonging.”

Both works are scored for a chamber ensemble, voice, and spoken word. Du Yun will take on the part of narrator and Satomi Matsuzaki as the singer in “A Cockroach’s Tarantella.” In “Zolle,” Du Yun and Matsuzaki will share the narration and voice role of The Wander Woman Ghost. eddy kwon will perform The Land-Watcher and tenor Ziad Nehme’s voice will be featured in the same role but through recording. Kamna Gupta will conduct.