Strong Voices
Introduction
This season, besides full-length modern and classical productions, the Dutch National Ballet is once again presenting some very varied mixed bills.
programme
The first of these programmes, Strong Voices, contains works by three choreographers who are all known for their own powerful ‘voice’ in their ballets.
New to the Dutch National Ballet is the Frenchman Benjamin Millepied, whose loose, free movement idiom and talent for working with large groups of dancers have made him into one of today’s most striking young choreographers.
He has previously created work for New York City Ballet (where he is also a principal dancer), the Paris Opera Ballet and the ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov. He also made the choreography for Black Swan, the latest film by Golden Lion winner Darren Aronofsky. The music for Millepied’s new creation will be written by Nico Muhly, who was dubbed America’s ‘hottest composer’ at his recent performance in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
Resident choreographer Hans van Manen is also making a new ballet for this programme. The piece for one woman and three men will be set to several piano songs by the Austrian composer Hugo Wolf, but then without the poems by Goethe normally sung to them. Van Manen’s new creation will be accompanied live by pianist/conductor/composer Reinbert de Leeuw.
Also on the programme is Moving Rooms, by Krzysztof Pastor – artistic director of the National Ballet of Poland and – like Van Manen – resident choreographer with our company. In 2008, Moving Rooms was received as the strongest premiere ballet of the programme In Space. The piece is about the emotions generated in people by a space, or by the lack of space. In a wonderful set of alternating patches of light, Pastor combines virtuoso ensemble work with an impressive solo demonstration of physical flexibility and an elegant, sensual duet.