Sep 14, 2022
It was wonderful to direct the film and live performance of "Sacre du Printemps" with choreographer Evelyne Krüger-Maitrel for the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie. The sound of the 120-member orchestra at the premiere was overwhelming. The 800 spectators celebrated the production with minutes of standing ovations.
I am filled with joy to report on the successful premiere of my latest production set to the music of Igor Stravinsky's groundbreaking ballet music "Le Sacre du Printemps". Stravinsky's piece is more relevant than ever today, with its depiction of nature and the tribe sacrificing a girl. In my production, I wanted to place these themes in the context of our current reality: are we sacrificing the future of a young generation today, or can we together create a more sustainable community?
The inspiration for this production stemmed from my own experiences. I vividly remember the first time I learned about the climate crisis. At the age of 13, I watched a documentary alone and spent the whole evening in tears. The fear, anger, and sorrow I felt were overwhelming. When I talked to others about it, I realized that many of us shared similar feelings. This realization motivated me to write a production that provides space for all the emotions we often suppress in everyday life, but also for the community we need to effect change.
The story begins with the film: Lea, a dreamy, introverted, and melancholic woman, discovers a dancing environmental protection group. Fascinated, she lets herself be taken to their magical forest, where she blossoms and experiences that she is part of the community and nature herself. But suddenly they are all threatened by the destruction of their environment. Dark beings of destruction attack them, and the question arises: will they become victims or can they save themselves and their environment?
The film ends, and now the dancers appear in the hall, and the story continues live. The audience finds itself in the midst of all the destruction, greed, and violence, but also in all the courage, hope, and kindness. The question remains: what kind of world do we want to create?
The production not only combines different art forms but also brings together artists from different parts of the world. Special thanks go to choreographer Evelyne Krüger-Maitrel and the entire film and dance ensemble, who brought this production to life with passion and dedication. Your commitment and your art made this performance an unforgettable experience. It was a wonderful collaboration with the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie and Intendant Beat Fehlmann. Experiencing the film and dance with the incredible strength of the music from the 120-member orchestra, conducted by Michael Francis, was an unforgettable experience.
Voices on the piece:
"A seemingly boundless artistic imagination", Beat Fehlmann, Intendant Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie
"I left the hall fulfilled! An absolutely exciting experience!” Roswitha Sperber, singer & promoter of female composers
"I was so touched. I didn't think I would learn anything through a stage play in my old age! The scene of different dances of the world taught me about tolerance. There was this understanding of differences."
Elke Rieck, CEO Biokonzept
"What a great evening! My friends were given access to the music through the film! I already love classical music a lot, my friends usually don't." Kathrin, sociology student