Merce Cunningham / Petter Jacobsson & Thomas Caley
France
National premiere
CCN - Ballet de Lorraine
For four walls + RainForest (1968) + Sounddance (1975)
November
2020
Fri
13
Sat
14
Sinopse
Merce Cunningham was one of the greatest North American artists, whose career spans seven decades and is marked by constant innovation and the expansion of the boundaries of performing arts. He now returns to Porto in a programme put forward by CCN – Ballet de Lorraine, celebrating his hundredth birthday. Cunningham created over 200 pieces, partly in collaboration with John Cage (with respect to music) and Robert Rauschenberg (as far as scenography, lighting design and costumes go). He radically renewed the dance scene, and he comes to Teatro Rivoli in the scope of a series dedicated to dance icons, after watching works by Lucinda Childs and Trisha Brown in February 2019. Under the artistic direction of Petter Jacobsson, the French company is currently one of the most relevant ones in Europe, both presenting contemporary pieces and revisiting the modern repertoire. It will bring two pieces by Merce Cunningham. RainForest, an icon of the collaboration with Andy Warhol scenery-wise that features the installation Silver Clouds, and Sounddance, once again with David Tudor composing the score. On the other hand, Petter Jacobsson and Thomas Caley’s creation for Ballet de Lorraine, For Four Walls, revisits text and choreographies by Cunningham and a piano score by John Cage, his long-time collaborator.
FOR FOUR WALLS
For four walls incorporated text and choreography by Merce Cunningham with a piano score by John Cage. After its premier, and only performance, in 1944, the piece was lost and forgotten, until pianist Richard Bunger rediscovered the score in the late 1970s among Cage’s manuscripts. It was still at the early stages of their collaboration, preceding what we identify as a Cage/Cunningham work. What we are met with is a youth piece full of emotions. For four walls is a wanderlust through a room, the individual, and the history we share. The “room” is a mirrored space that gives the impression of having and not having confining walls according to the situation. Defining infinity, passing through it or claiming to be a reflective space — a place to remember that we belong to these interconnected spaces and their temporalities. For four Walls is a vulnerable, perpetually moving non-place.
RAINFOREST
This program of the CCN Ballet de Lorraine was originally part of the Merce Cunningham Centennial.
PERFORMANCE SUPPORT
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FOR FOUR WALLS
For four walls incorporated text and choreography by Merce Cunningham with a piano score by John Cage. After its premier, and only performance, in 1944, the piece was lost and forgotten, until pianist Richard Bunger rediscovered the score in the late 1970s among Cage’s manuscripts. It was still at the early stages of their collaboration, preceding what we identify as a Cage/Cunningham work. What we are met with is a youth piece full of emotions. For four walls is a wanderlust through a room, the individual, and the history we share. The “room” is a mirrored space that gives the impression of having and not having confining walls according to the situation. Defining infinity, passing through it or claiming to be a reflective space — a place to remember that we belong to these interconnected spaces and their temporalities. For four Walls is a vulnerable, perpetually moving non-place.
The title for RainForest came from Cunningham’s childhood memories of the Northwest and the rainforest in the Olympic Peninsula (USA). This 1968 piece includes Andy Warhol’s installation, Silver Clouds — a number of pillow-shaped Mylar balloons filled with helium freely float in the air, wrapping the six bodies and resembling a dense tropical forest. The dancers wore flesh-coloured leotards and tights, which Jasper Johns (uncredited) cut with a razor blade, to give the costumes a roughened appearance. The music was by David Tudor (it was the first time he worked with the company) and evoked the chirping and chattering of birds and animals. RainForest was last presented at Rivoli in the scope of Porto 2001 European Capital of Culture.
SOUNDDANCE
SOUNDDANCE
Sounddance is considered one of Merce Cunningham’s most beloved pieces by audiences and critics alike. Cunningham created Sounddance upon his return after spending nine weeks with the Paris Opera Ballet in 1973, where he created Un jour ou deux [A Day or Two]. As opposed to ballet’s uniformity and unison, he choreographed a fast-paced, vigorous, organised chaos. The stage is split down the middle by a delicate golden curtain, designed by artist Mark Lancaster, which adds meaning to the overlapping, frantic choreography, as if we were watching a miniature dance cosmos through a microscope. The dancers enter the stage pushed by the curtain, and exit as though they were being sucked by it and by David Tudor’s powerful score.
Based in Nancy since 1978, the company evolved under a number of names before becoming the CENTRE CHORÉGRAPHIQUE NATIONAL - BALLET DE LORRAINE, one of the premier creation and repertory dance companies in France. Previously known as Ballet Français Théâtre de Nancy under the direction of Jean-Albert Cartier, the Center reflects the policy to decentralize the choreographic arts. The Company’s artistic mission was reinforced, and energies were focused on producing classic and romantic masterpieces, a repertory in which Pierre Lacotte was acknowledged an international specialist. In 1999, the Company evolved into its current form. Famous choreographers and young talents come from the world to Nancy, accompanied by their artistic and technical teams. They transmit and create with the interpreters of the Ballet, all and all of traditional formation, but ground and impassioned by the current languages.
This program of the CCN Ballet de Lorraine was originally part of the Merce Cunningham Centennial.
PERFORMANCE SUPPORT
© Laurent Philippe
Aditional info
- Price 12€ / 6€ (online, November 14 session)
Duration 1.40h (with 2 intermissions)
Age >12
Streaming tmp.bol.pt/live (available to watch 24h, since 7PM on November 14)
Author's bio text
Ficha Técnica
- FOR FOUR WALLS
Coreography Petter Jacobsson, Thomas Caley
Music John Cage (Four Walls, act 1)
Performed by Esther Bachs Viñuela, Amandine Biancherin, Inès Depauw, Angela Falk, Inès Hadj-Rabah, Margaux Laurence, Laure Lescoffy, Valérie Ly-Cuong, Emilie Meeus, Elsa Raymond, Céline Schoefs (November 13), Jonathan Archambault, Alexis Bourbeau, Charles Dalerci, Nathan Gracia, Léo Gras, Tristan Ihne, Matéo Lagière, Afonso Massano, Rémi Richaud, Willem-Jan Sas, Jean Soubirou, Luc Verbitzky (November 14)
Pianist Vanessa Wagner
Sets Petter Jacobsson, Thomas Caley
Costumes Petter Jacobsson, Thomas Caley, Martine Augsbourger, Annabelle Saintier
Lighting design Eric Wurtz
Co-production Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse
RAINFOREST
Coreography Merce Cunningham
Music David Tudor (Rainforest)
Performed by Angela Falk, Margaux Laurence, Elsa Raymond, Tristan Ihne, Luc Verbitzky, Jonathan Archambault (November 13), Esther Bachs Viñuela, Inès Depauw, Céline Schoefs, Jonathan Archambault, Nathan Gracia, Willem-Jan Sas (November 14)Musicians Etienne Caillet and Ben Unzip
Set Andy Warhol (Silver Clouds)
Costumes Jasper Johns
Lighting design Aaron Copp
Executed by Cheryl Therrien, Ashley Chen
SOUNDDANCE
Coreography Merce Cunningham
Music David Tudor (Untitled 1975/1994)
Performed by Amandine Biancherin, Inès Depauw, Margaux Laurence, Valérie Ly-Cuong, Céline Schoefs, Charles Dalerci, Nathan Gracia, Tristan Ihne, Willem-Jan Sas, Luc Verbitzky (November 13), Esther Bachs Viñuela, Angela Falk, Inès Hadj-Rabah, Margaux Laurence, Laure Lescoffy, Jonathan Archambault, Léo Gras, Matéo Lagière, Rémi Richaud, Willem–Jan Sas (November 14)
Musician Etienne CailletSets, costumes and lighting design Mark Lancaster
Directed by Thomas Caley, Meg Harper
Rehearsal director Thomas Caley
Productions made by CENTRE CHOREGRAPHIQUE NATIONAL - BALLET DE LORRAINE. The CCN - BALLET DE LORRAINE is supported by the Ministry of Culture - DRAC Grand-Est, Regional Council of Grand-Est and the city of Nancy. CCN - Ballet de Lorraine Cultural Ambassador for the city of Nancy and the Grand-Est region.
