The choreographer Richard Siegal, “sought-after worldwide as the most innovative, the most exciting dance-maker of his generation” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), sets out to cross boundaries with his new company Ballet of Difference, founded in 2016. With drive and virtuosity, exceptional settings and energetic sounds, the diverse troupe merges classical ballet tradition, contemporary dance and pop culture in an extraordinary dance event and forges a unique vision of ballet’s present and future. On Body is spectacularly opened by BoD, a work that celebrates dancing on pointe and the individual’s joy to dance. In Made for Walking pale colours and austere forms dominate the stage and robust boots replace the pointe shoes. It is followed by UNITXT, a trailblazing piece of contemporary dance, in which “Richard Siegal perfects seemingly impossible movements – you can hardly believe your eyes!” (BR Klassik). Also available the Documentary Draw a Line about Richard Siegal and his Ballet of Difference A05050606
Draw a Line
The documentary Draw a Line by Benedict Mirow accompanies Richard Siegal and Ballet of Difference during the rehearsal process for ON BODY up to the celebrated world premieres in Cologne and Munich. It shows how the diverse troupe blossoms into one of the best modern dance companies of today and it celebrates the creative talents behind Ballet of Difference. Mirow also shot in Africa to trace the African roots of Siegal’s style with which he transformed the German dance scene. A powerful film about artistic freedom, the rousing power of electronic music and the brutal passion, painful discipline and touching sensuality of dance.
Verdi, La Forza del Destino
Ever since their magnificent and hugely successful performance in Wagner’s “Lohengrin” at the Bavarian State Opera, Anja Harteros and Jonas Kaufmann have come to be regarded as the world of opera’s perfect couple. In Giuseppe Verdi’s “La forza del destino”, the two returned and once again played two lovers desperately trying to be together but kept apart by the forces of destiny. Their performance at the Munich Opera Festival met with “explosive outbursts of applause for the new heights
reached in singing” (dpa).
Wozzeck
Berg’s “Wozzeck” is an indispensable work in the repertoire of any opera house. In Zurich, critics and audience celebrated director Andreas Homoki, General Music Director Fabio Luisi and baritone Christian Gerhaher for their intriguing interpretation of this masterpiece of operatic history. “It is an astonishing debut…: For the first time, Christian Gerhaher sings one of the most important operatic roles of the 20th century. That in itself is a great experience. But this evening is fantastic even beyond Gerhaher’s brilliant performance as a singer and actor thanks to the striking and truly exceptional interacting of music, scene, and singing. This Zurich ‘Wozzeck’ is phenomenal.” Süddeutsche Zeitung