Dances

This choreography was part of the Andriessen & Moore programme by Amsterdam Sinfonietta. Krisztina de Châtel’s choreography is set to Andriessen’s music theatre piece Dances and was performed by South-African dancer Tim Persent and soprano Claron McFadden. De Châtel comments on the choreography:

“While they enter steadily, true to the ritual character of the first sounds of piano music, there are repeated violent vocal outbursts from the energetic princess, Claron McFadden, accompanied by physical accents. Tim Persent modestly remains her companion, as a mental support in the background, but active in his own way and reacting to the impulses and rhythms of the music. The princess remains strong but solitary in her vocal and physical expressions. In the end, they remove themselves, again in complete harmony. Yet despite their close companionship, the princess remains alone.” McFadden adds: “Louis’ music is always a challenge, there has to be rhythm in what you do and at the same time he demands legato lines and wants no vibrato.”

premiere 31 October 2018, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
choreography Krisztina de Châtel
with Tim Persent and Claron McFadden
music Louis Andriessen
photo Anna van Kooij