Elia, Villa Bloc

This is one of the “habitacles” of Esther Vogel, the former owner of the house. A sculpture that you could live in. Beautiful, isn't it? I hold concerts here from time to time, the acoustics are amazing. Esther Vogel built several of them. I bought the property largely for them. The house is beautiful but the “habitacles” are unique. (pause) Let me tell you a story. (pause) Esther Vogel had a great love, only one. A cellist. Her name was Rebecca Byrd. You may know her. (pause) She met her just after the construction of this “habitacle” (she points to the building). Rebecca liked to improvise there. She said that the sounds followed unpredictable lines. (she moves closer to her) Esther often came to listen to her, and that's when the idea came up. To make an instrument tuned to the place, an instrument whose timbre and resonance frequencies would be secretly linked to those of the “habitacle”. This is how the Monster was born. It was intended for Rebecca, of course. She gave it to her for her fortieth birthday. (pause) It is said that she developed a real obsession with it.

Monologue of the collector, excerpt