This is what happens when the doyenne of postmodern dance, and theatre all-rounder Robert Wilson – two great personalities of the performing arts with a shared past sit – at home alone because of the pandemic and feel caged in: they exchange ideas and look for inspiration for the time after the crisis. Anyhow, here’s the result: RELATIVE CALM, a visually stunning piece with powerful music and impressive video projections. Childs and Wilson, the artistic dream couple since Einstein on the Beach, their first collaboration nearly half a century ago, have revisited collaborations from the 1980s to the music of Jon Gibson and John Adams, and created this new three-part work for the big stage – plus Childs’ choreographic vision of Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite. This magical evening will be danced by the ensemble of the MP3 Dance Project from Rome under the direction of Michele Pogliani.
Concept, light, video, set and direction: Robert Wilson
Choreography: Lucinda Childs
Music: Jon Gibson, Igor Stravinsky, John Adams
MP3 Dance project
Directed by: Michele Pogliani
With: Giuseppe Catalfamo, Simone Cioffi, Francesco Curatolo, Asia Fabbri, Gaia Foglini, Lorenzo Ganni, Noemi Gregnanin, Giovanni Marino, Sara Mignani, Silvia Prete, Agnese Trippa, Irene Venuta, Rachele Zedde.
1. Jon Gibson Rise (1981): Winds, keyboards, autoharp, ambient recording, soprano saxophones and percussion (New World records)
2. Lucinda Childs knee play 1
3. Igor Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite (1922): Performed and recorded by PMCE Parco della Musica Contemporanea Ensemble directed by Tonino Battista
4. Lucinda Childs knee play 2
5. John Adams Light over water / part 3 (1985): Symphony for brass instruments and synthesizers, New Albion Records
Collaborator to set design: Flavio Pezzotti
Collaborator to light design: Cristian Simon
Video designer collaborator: Tomek Jeziorski
Costumes: Tiziana Barbaranelli
Sound: Dario Felli
Make-up: Claudia Bastia
Technical director: Enrico Maso
Stage manager: Petra Deidda
Assistant to lights: Fabio Bozzetta
Assistant to video design: Michele Innocente
Assistant to costumes: Flavia Ruggeri
Photos: Lucie Jansch
Project manager: Marta Dellabona
Production and communication: Martina Galbiati
Personal assistant: Aleksandar Asparuhov
RW-Work, New York www.robertwilson.com
