"Slow Burn" Ballettabend mit Werken von Aszure Barton und William Forsythe

In the organizer's words:

Especially when it comes to romantic relationships, the term "slow burn" refers to the slow maturing of deep feelings. Will you take your time approaching this evening or are you more of a love at first sight type? Either way, the works of William Forsythe and Aszure Barton resonate for a long time.

William Forsythe is undoubtedly one of the most important dance artists of our time. He has lifted classical forms and lines off their axes, stretched and expanded them, even tilting them. His style fascinates dancers and audiences alike with its extreme precision paired with breathtaking speed.
At the center of "Blake Works V (The Barre Project)" is the eponymous ballet barre. The ballet was created during the 2020 pandemic, when daily training at the barre at home was the only way for dancers worldwide to maintain their professional level. The work was created to the music of singer-songwriter James Blake in Zoom meetings across several time zones. Forsythe's choreography is a must for all fans of classical ballet, as it combines the nobility of form and the unbridled joy of dance.
"Working with what's there". Aszure Barton has long approached new creations with this credo, and "Slow Burn" is no exception: costume designer Michelle Jank, for example, breathes new life and fresh colors into found objects from the Hamburg State Opera's collection. In addition to the choreography, the music for the evening is also completely new: Ambrose Akinmusire has created a large orchestral score for the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra with poetic and dramatic episodes reminiscent of film music. In terms of content, the starting point for Barton's premiere is a quote from Rilke: "Let everything happen to you; beauty and horror." The realization that these two extremes are connected by all the nuances in between forms the core of her choreography. Special emphasis is placed on the roles of women, who for Barton play an essential, albeit often invisible, role in society and in interpersonal relationships. It is the power, wisdom, strength and patience of older women that particularly inspires her, says Barton.