Peer Gynt

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Alfred Schnittke

Peer Gynt

about 

Edvard Grieg is not alone in having been inspired by Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt; it also inspired the Soviet-German composer Alfred Schnittke. At the request of the choreographer John Neumeir, he composed a monumental ballet in 1986-1988 about the Norwegian farmer's son, Peer Gynt, who tried to escape reality with his lies.   

Schnittke's ballet contains elements from the original Peer Gynt story, including his meeting with the troll king. Some scenes, however, are transported to Hollywood where the Norwegian rake manages to build a successful career as a film star. One that ultimately fails; a victim of his megalomania. Old and disillusioned, Peer Gynt returns to Norway. What have all the adventures led to? Who is he really? Has his life amounted to anything or has it all been one big failure?

The music that Alfred Schnittke writes is like the story itself: exceptionally eclectic, full of surprises and among the most beautiful that the 20th century produced. The Belgian National Orchestra celebrates this surprising work, never before performed in Belgium, with a performance conducted by the Danish conductor Michael Schønwandt. A young team led by director Mien Bogaert, with Talitha De Decker as choreographer, Dennis Peschke as costume designer and Benjamien Lycke as videographer, provides a staging that asks the question why people are so good at escaping uncomfortable truths. Two dancers will work with characters from the original Ibsen story, both live and in a gigantic video installation.

extra

Watch the short film Peer Gynt by film maker Michiel Robberecht, at 16:00 in Cinematek.

Credits

coproduction

Klarafestival, Bozar

image

© Mien Bogaert