“Utopian rituals” that give the prevailing politics and organisation of society “a positive injection”: this is how dance aficionado and Belgian countertenor and director Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe understands his work. For his piece Madrigals, a blend of dance and music theatre in a soundscape between the late Renaissance and early baroque periods, the 28-year-old multi-talent has reworked Claudio Monteverdi’s Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi, with four musicians who play live on stage. Eight amazing singers and performers merge past and future and act out the birth of a new society as a Dionysian community. Audiovisual pop-art experimenter Jesse (Doon) Kanda, who has collaborated with Björk, FKA Twigs and Arca, and co-composer Wouter Deltour provide the music. With respect for Monteverdi, Meirhaeghe opens up new perspectives because “the classical repertoire” should not go on “revolving around itself” forever.
Concept, direction: Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe
Performed by: Hanako Hayakawa, Alice Giuliani, Els Mondelaers, Lucie Plasschaert, Khaled Barghouthi, Clément Corrillon, Victor Dumont, Antonio Fajardo
Choreography: Sophia Rodriguez in collaboration with the performers
Musicians / Quartet: Madoka Nakamaru, Wouter Deltour, Pieter Theuns, Rebecca Huber of David Wish
Music: Doon Kanda (aka Jesse Kanda), Claudio Monteverdi
Musical direction, co-composer: Wouter Deltour
Dramaturgy, research: Louise van den Eede
Scenography, light: Zaza Dupont, Bart van Merode
Co-curator artworks: Koi Persyn
Musical coaching: Pieter Theuns
Voice coaching: Rosanne Groenendijk
Shibari coaching: Marc Beshibari
Visual artists: Sanam Khatibi, Justin Fitzpatrick, Thomas Renwart, Anthony Ngoya, Gilles Dusong, Christiane Blattmann, Daan Couzijn, Che Go Eun, Tom Hallet, Nokukhanya Langa, Tristan Bründler
Video: Filip Anthonissen
Costumes: Kasia Mielczarek
Teaser, making-of: Charles Dhondt
Photography cave: Thibaut Lampe
Distribution: ART HAPPENS
Produced by Muziektheater Transparant and d e t h e a t e r m a k e r
In co-production with DE SINGEL, Productiehuis Theater Rotterdam, Concertgebouw Brugge, B’Rock Orchestra, C-Takt and Perpodium
In collaboration with O. Festival for Opera. Music. Theatre, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Troubleyn/Laboratorium, Matterhorn VZW
With the support of Inspiratum, Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government and the Flemish Government
With thanks to Showtex, Kopspel, Divi-divi and the caves of Dinant
