German writer Volker Demuth argues that we encounter our self-made catastrophe directly in the landscape: “The apocalypse will not come. It is already here.” He points to the global acceptance of the systematic destruction of biological life. In analogy to this, and foreshadowing such turmoil, Vaslav Nijinsky, creator of the legendary Faun, wrote in feverish delirium in 1919: “Reason is an extinguished sun slowly fading away.”
Engaging with Nijinsky and his Faun opened new perspectives for me on artistic attitude in dance and music at the beginning of the 20th century — a period driven by the desire for modernity and an almost obsessive longing for dream and fantasy. Concepts of nature, paradise, creation, and civilization serve as guiding motifs in this work.
In contrast to the opulent soundscapes of impressionist composers Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, collages of apocalyptic noises like bombs, bells, and airplanes emphasize our ongoing appropriation of nature. The dancers move between folkloric and almost naked figures who gather around a large stone, where scenes of fables, rituals, and disaster zones come to life.
Pushing the the boundaries of abstract dance theatre FIEBER transforms into a theoretical-poetic fairy tale.
Credits
Choreography, Costume Design, Concept: Louis Stiens
Choreographic Assistant: Robert Robinson
Stage Design, Concept: Bettina Katja Lange
Music: Claude Debussy; Maurice Ravel
Additional Composition, Sound Design: Anni Nöps
Light Design: Joe Schadl
Costume Assistant: Thomas van der Jeught
Rehearsal Director: Joe Monaghan
Dramaturgy: Dirk Elwert
Photography: Andreas J. Etter
Dancers (original cast): Fabio Agnello, Kirsty Clarke, Brandon Carpio, Stephanie Carpio, Diego del Rey, Yuka Eda, Isabel Edwards, Lorenzo Galdemann, Leonardo Germani, Mireia González-Fernández, Savanna Haberland, Philipp Imbach, Barbora Kubátová, Thibaut Lucas Nury, Rosa Maria Pace, Giulio Panzi, Gionata Sargentini, Christoph Schaller
Premiere: October 26, 2024, Oper Graz
Grazer Philharmoniker (Conductor: Vassilis Christopulos)
Duration: 35’
