After a long break, a production by a famous Chinese choreographer returns to the stage of the capital theatre. This production was last presented to the audience in 2018 on tour in Minsk.
On November 10 and 11, such ballets as “The Mists of Time” by Yixiang Zhang and “Falling Angels” by Jiří Kylián will be presented at the Astana Ballet Theatre. Both works are created in the modern plastique style, they are examples of contemporary ballet forms and cutting-edge styles.
In the first part of the evening, admirers of high art will enjoy “The Mists of Time” ballet by Yixiang Zhang to the music of contemporary composers Max Richter, Dowwei, and Kashiwa Daisuke. The Chinese choreographer is known for working in the contemporary ballet genre and simultaneously with Chinese zest and originality. His ballet language is based on natural plastique, which allows performing complex movements, the choreographer actively uses movements and elements of popular Chinese gymnastics “wushu” and “tai chi”.
The choreographer conveyed his admiration for women, relying on the ancient Chinese philosophy, according to which female nature is akin to the element of “yin”. Women are diverse and beautiful, always different and unpredictable. Life presents them with many trials, melancholy, and sadness, but they retain their charming fascination and continue to move forward. Moods and states are changeable, and sometimes they resemble mists, which arise from the contact of heat and cold, when summer meets autumn, and winter meets spring.
The second part of the evening will feature one of the most famous works of the Czech choreographer-philosopher Jiří Kylián “Falling Angels” staged by Stefan Zeromski. A unique feature of this production, of course, is live music. The composition “Drumming part 1” by Steve Reich, which is considered one of the most difficult to perform and requires incredible technique and endurance from drummers, will be performed by the percussion group of the Symphony Orchestra of Astana Ballet.
The choreographer throws his “Falling Angels” onto the stage to the drum roll, the rhythms of which seem to knock out every movement from the dancers and put the audience into a hypnotic trance, riveting attention to the polished movements of the ballerinas. The dancers begin to move towards the audience without music, and then the drums seem to catch up with them and join the fight.
Kylián’s art is absolutely international and deeply modern: his works are distinguished by extraordinary musicality, monochrome aesthetics, and world-class performance. The performers of the Astana Ballet Theatre have mastered the special “Kylián style”, which has gone further from the usual classics than what they had to work with before.
The events will be held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.