Beethoven 7

Beethoven’s timeless symphony interpreted by Sasha Waltz & Guests.

Stage

Store Sal

Organizer

Bærum Kulturhus — Dans Sørøst-Norge

Part of serie(s)

Dance

In Beethoven 7 Sasha Waltz and an ensemble of 14 dancers devote themselves to the complete »Symphony No. 7 in A major (op. 92)« by Ludwig van Beethoven.

This music, composed in 1812 at the end of the composer's life when he was already going deaf, resonates with questions of his time that still play a role for us today: the failure of a revolution, the (forced) return to old traditions, the friction between the desire for social transformation and restoration and the associated loss of freedom and future prospects.

To dansere flyr gjennom luften foran ensemble.

The Artistic Freedom

Back in June 2021, Sasha Waltz devised a choreography to two movements from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony at the ancient temple in Delphi as part of the European broadcaster ARTE’s production »Mit Beethoven durch Europa« (Through Europe with Beethoven). The music has captivated the choreographer ever since.

In 1812, Beethoven noted in his diary »Are real, true people slaves to their environment or free?« and witnessed, to his own dismay, the political idea of freedom falter between the French Revolution and the European Restoration. Despite this, his work remains a definitive expression of an aesthetic idea of artistic freedom

The two parts share a certain rage. … For me, … a struggle … is clear: one that in the first part intimidates and overwhelms, in the second part looks optimistically towards the future

Freiheit/Extasis

At the beginning of the evening, Sasha Waltz takes up these themes and reinterprets them from a contemporary perspective to the live electronic sounds of Chilean composer Diego Noguera with the title Freiheit/Extasis, which was commissioned and developed during the creation process. How do personal freedom and social constraints relate to each other?

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We would like to draw your attention to the fact that an increased noise level is to be expected during the first part of »Beethoven 7«. In addition, bass tones in a low frequency range can lead to physically noticeable vibrations.

A production by Sasha Waltz & Guests. Made in Radialsystem

Photographer: Sebastian Bolesch

Introduction

Before both performances, there will be an introduction to the show presented by the curating dance producer, Marianne Bilger.

The introduction will take place from 6:30 PM to 6:40 PM at Foajéscenen, Bærum Kulturhus.

Sasha Waltz

Sasha Waltz is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer. She founded Sasha Waltz & Guests and has created groundbreaking dance works, choreographed operas, and interdisciplinary projects. Her work often combines dance and music, as in Beethoven 7 and SYM-PHONIE MMXX, and she is committed to education and to dance as a social and socio-political medium. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the German Dance Award, and the Helmut Schmidt Prize.

Read more about Sasha Waltz & Guests here.