A hymn to contemporary dance. A love letter to the iconic work of Bach. Arguably the greatest living choreographer in the world, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker presents her own version of Bach’s six Cello Suites, Mitten Wir Im Leben / Bach6CelloSuiten on July 2 at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. A unique performance described by critics as the “ideal marriage between Bach and Rosas” and “a sublime moment of grace and beauty.”

The Athens Festival audience had the opportunity to enjoy works by Keersmaeker in the past, such as the Rosas danst Rosas and The Song performances in 2009. However, this performance marks the first time that the Rosas group appears at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, after Keersmaeker expressed a strong desire to perform at the iconic venue. Keersmaeker will dance along with four other members of her group, in a performance paying tribute to Pina Bausch (1949 – 2009).  The title refers to “Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfangen” (In the midst of life we are in death), Martin Luther’s German translation of a Latin hymn, words which have also been engraved on the tombstone of Pina Bausch.

The Belgian artist founded Rosas in 1983 and has been praised worldwide for her unique, distinctive choreographic style. In 1995, she founded the dance school P.A.R.T.S. (Performing Arts Research and Training Studios) in Brussels. She has numerous accolades to her name, including a Bessie Award (1987), Grand Prix de la Danse de Montréal (2012), the Venice Biennale Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement (2014), and is also Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2008) in France.

Joining her on the stage of the Odeon is the great French cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, acclaimed for his musical virtuosity. Critics have described him as a soloist who “performs as he breathes.” Queyras, a world-renowned cellist who has been collaborating with major artists for several years, is a regular collaborator of Freiburger Barockorchester and Akadamie für Alte Musik in Berlin, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Artists

Choreography Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
Cello Jean-Guihen Queyras

Created with and danced by Boštjan Antončič, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Marie Goudot, Julien Monty, Michaël Pomero
Music Johann Sebastian Bach, Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, BWV 1007 – 1012
Costumes An D’Huys
Lighting design Luc Schaltin
Dramaturgy Jan Vandenhouwe
Sound Alban Moraud
Artistic assistants Carlos Garbin, Femke Gyselinck
Rehearsal director Femke Gyselinck
Artistic coordination and planning Anne Van Aerschot
Artistic advice Thierry De Mey
Technical director Joris De Bolle
Costumes coordinator Heide Vanderieck
Production Rosas

Co-production De Munt / La Monnaie (Brussels), Ruhrtriennale, Concertgebouw Brugge, Philharmonie de Paris – Théâtre de la Ville – Paris – Festival d’Automne à Paris, Sadler’s Wells (London), Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Opéra de Lille, Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Montpellier Danse 2018

Mitten wir im Leben sind/Bach6Cellosuiten was realized with the support of the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government, in collaboration with Casa Kafka Pictures Tax Shelter empowered by Belfius.

Rosas is supported by the Flemish Community and by the BNP Paribas Foundation.