In its interdisciplinary project, Rundfunkchor Berlin has cooperated with Robert Wilson for the very first time. During ten sold out performances the genre-crossing project shone an unusual spotlight on Martin Luther: »LUTHER dancing with the gods« reflects Martin Luther’s life and impact on the arts and through the arts.
»LUTHER dancing with the gods«
The musical centrepiece is Johann Sebastian Bach’s four motets based on Luther’s translation of the Bible and Protestant chorales. Robert Wilson’s physical theatre will create a space for them to radiate and resonate. They will also be reflected in modern music through Knut Nystedt’s Immortal Bach and Steve Reich’s Clapping Music. Between the motets, Wilson is putting theatrical situations developed from Luther’s Table Talk, speeches and other texts connected with his life: on his disputations, on death, children, marriage and love. In the modern oval of Pierre Boulez Hall, Wilson’s associative, highly stylized theatre – strongly characterized by his individual use of make-up, costumes and lighting – underwent a fascinating synthesis with Bach’s lofty choral music, opening up new ideas and perceptual spaces.
Rundfunkchor Berlin’s interdisciplinary series has enjoyed increasing acclaim for years. The choir’s theatrical »physicalization« of the Brahms Requiem as human requiem made the New York Times’s list of »The Best Classical Music of 2016«. In this project, the choir was collaborating for the first time with Robert Wilson.
Gallery
»LUTHER dancing with the gods« by Robert Wilson
Foto (c) Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Chloé Bellemère
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
© Lovis Ostenrik
Cast
Robert Wilson director / set designer / light designer
Nicola Panzer co-director
Annick Lavallée-Benny co set-designer
John Torres co light-designer
Julia von Leliwa costume and wig designer
Manu Halligan make-up designer
Habakuk Traber dramaturg
Jürgen Holtz Luther
Lydia Koniordou A Woman in Black
Performers
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Aleke Alpermann cello
Mirjam Wittulski double bass
Arno Schneider organ
Gijs Leenaars conductor
-
Sat 20:00Sep 30th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Mon 20:00Oct 2nd
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Tue 20:00Oct 3rd
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Wed 20:00Oct 4th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it
-
Fri 20:00Oct 6th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Sat 20:00Oct 7th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Sun 20:00Oct 8th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Tue 20:00Oct 10th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Wed 20:00Oct 11th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it -
Thu 20:00Oct 12th
2017Transdisciplinary Choral Music
LUTHER dancing with the gods
Gijs Leenaars Dirigent
Pierre Boulez Saal
you missed it