If you always thought Beethoven''''s 9th needed visuals, you can
now "watch" one of the world''''s greatest pieces of music: See the
Hungarian National Ballet''''s "Human Anthem".
The Hungarian National Ballet has created a symphonic ballet,
"Human Anthem," based on Beethoven''''s "Symphony No. 9." You can
experience the symphony and the dance on November 15-16 at Shanghai
Grand Theater.
The performance is part of "Liberty, Love! Hungarian Culture in
Focus" - Hungarian Season in China 2007-09. It will be performed as
part of the Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Colorful, classic Hungarian ballet art goes back more than 200
years: Today it combines Hungarian folk dance with classical
Russian ballet and contemporary dance from Europe and the United
States.
The ballet "Human Anthem" was created by Gabor Kevehazi, art
director of the Hungarian National Ballet, and Ivan Marko, a
well-known figure in contemporary Hungarian ballet. It debuted in
2006 to critical acclaim in the Palace of Arts in Budapest, the
largest arts center in Central Europe.
The four movements of the symphony in "Human Anthems" are
symbolized by the four elements: earth, fire, water and air.
The first movement symbolized by Earth depicts the dawn of human
existence. Earth is the battleground for man, where dawn comes at
last after a fierce fight with the forces of darkness.
The joy of life is expressed in the second movement symbolized
by Fire, involving flame-like effects.
The third movement symbolized by Water tells the story of two
people. On the moonlit stage, an elderly man staggers forward
pushing his aged love in a wheelchair.
He lifts her out and as their bodies form a cross, their
childhood selves appear. The stories of their lives are told by
other characters, until we return to the initial image: two old
people leaving only memories behind.
The last movement featuring "Ode to Joy" is symbolized by Air,
expressing man''''s yearning for freedom, and his belonging to a
family, to a community and humanity.
Apart from the symphonic ballet, a musical dialogue between two
prominent Hungary improvisers in music is also featured.
"Piano Dialogue" jazz concert by Bela Szakesi Lakato and Gyory
Vukan will be staged at Shanghai Center Theater next weekend.
Versatile virtuoso Vukan graduated from the Ferenc Liszt Academy
as a classical pianist at 18. He has been giving concerts for more
than 40 years, at first mostly classical and then mostly jazz.
Lakato started playing the piano at the age of nine. He won
second prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival where music media
honored him as No. 1. He has cooperated with the Hungarian National
Philharmonic Orchestra in performing Mozart, playing his own jazz
improvisations where Mozart specified improv.
Vukan and Lakato have been performing as duo for more than 30
years.
The Hungarian offerings also include a concert by celebrated
folk vocalist Marta Sebestyen, titled "From Pure Sources Only," and
operettas and dances by the Budapest Operetta Theater, titled "An
Evening with Sissy."
"From Pure Sources Only" concert
Date: November 9, 7:15pm
"Piano Dialogue" jazz concert
Date: November 10, 7:15pm
"An Evening with Sissy" operetta songs and dances
Date: November 11, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Center Theater, 1376 Nanjing Rd W.
Tickets: 80-380 yuan
Tel: 6272-1976, 6272-0246, 6272-3797, 6279-8663
"Human Anthem" symphonic ballet
Date: November 15-16, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Peoples Ave
Tickets: 120-680 yuan
Tel: 6272-1976, 6272-0310
(Shanghai Daily November 3, 2007)