The magic of sound in motion. In Lars Scheibner’s choreography for Shchedrin’s The Sealed Angel choral music enters into a dialogue with dance
Rundfunkchor Berlin moves throughout the space, sometimes coalescing into a mass, then drifting apart in all directions, dwindling away among the spectators and thereby creating new structures. The motion of the bodies translates the motion of the music. Scheibner’s choreography is grounded on a powerful idea: the trajectory of human life is subject to external and internal forces, a cycle of violence puctuated by moments of remorse, atonement and hope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ4uQiT-Xgg

Out of the mass there emerge vocal soloists and dancers who form and accompany the trajectory of human life. At the climax of the performance two boy soprano soloists take the limelight: the irruption of the “other” into this world. The otherworldly impression is reinforced by the magical design of lighting artist Rico Heidler. Like Shchedrin’s music, the choreography at the end returns to the beginning: the eternal cycle of life.
Since its premiere in 2005, this production has drawn great international attention and brought Rundfunkchor Berlin invitations to perform it in numerous European countries.

Rodion Shchedrin

»The sealed angel«

Russian Liturgy

Drama for choir, five dancers, flute and soloists
Conductor

Stefan Parkmann

Choreography

Lars Scheibner

Light

Rico Heidler

Chorus

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Premiere: 2005, Parochialkirche Berlin

Revivals

• 2012 Philharmonie Berlin
• 2012 Liechtenstein, Vaduzer Saal
• 2010 Dortmund, St. Reinoldi
• 2010 Nürnberg, St. Lorenz
• 2008 San Sebastián, Teatro Victoria Engenie
• 2008 Hamburg, Kampnagel
• 2008 Kopenhagen, Glyptothek
• 2007 Baden-Baden, Festspielhaus
• 2007 Radialsystem V, Berlin