Concept, choreography: Iztok Kovač
Iztok Kovač/EN-KNAP (SI)
OTTETTO (8 Swings for His Highness)
- Tanz im August
Igor Stravinsky described his 1923 composition "Octet" as "dry, cold and transparent, like an ‘extra dry’ champagne". Conceived in purely formalistic terms and devoid of any narrative content, the sonata is scored for an unusual combination of brass and woodwind. Employing purportedly traditional technical means of baroque and classical music, it was received with dismay and generally considered a bad joke, especially since it failed to fulfil expectations of Russian wildness after "Le Sacre de printemps". For all its formal virtuosity the work was deemed to be mannered. From the contemporary perspective "Octet" heralds the beginning of a new era, that of neo-classicism, in music; some experts even discern in the score an affinity with the Roaring Twenties and with jazz. The Slovenian choreographer Iztok Kovač and the EnKnapGroup investigate this pioneering composition from the perspectives of the participating artists: five dancers, eight musicians, one conductor and three visual artists each find their own approach to Stravinsky’s composition. The dancers’ movements, for instance, are based on an analysis of the voice of the individual instruments. Stressing the abstract nature of Stravinsky’s composition, they alter it at the same time. Subjugated to the stringent rhythm of the metronome, the choreography makes "Octet", originally composed for concert performance, seem like music for the stage. Iztok Kovač and EN-KNAP, together in 'OTTETTO,' present a playful visualization of a musical oddity from the 20th century which combines dance, music, light, and scenery.
Concept, choreography Iztok Kovač
Created and performed by EN-KNAP Group - Luke Thomas Dunne, Ida Hellsten, Bence Mezei, Ana Štefanec, Tamás Tuza
Music Igor Stravinsky, "Oktett", 1923
Compositional Additions Gregor Pompe
Conductor Živa Ploj Peršuh
Musicians Kaja Lešnjak, Matic Kuder, Arpad Balasz Piri, Miha Petkovšek, Blaž Avbar, Leon Pokeržnik, Mihael Šuler, David Kajic
Visuals Komposter
Light Design Jaka Šimenc
Set Design Jaka Šimenc, Komposter, Iztok Kovač
Costume Valter Kobal
Musical Consultant Gregor Pompe
Composition Allegro con moto Komposter Narration Nada Vodušek, Faris Endris Rahoma
Production EN-KNAP Productions Partner Društvo ustvarjalcev sodobne slovenske kulture (Delavnica)
Supported by City of Ljubljana -Department of Culture, and Ministry of Culture.
Funded by Kulturförderung Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Coproduction Tanz im August
Duration: 60 minutes
Cast
Dates
Past
Location
HAU1
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