Close-Up
Warm Austerity
In Opus, Christos Papadopoulos has the dancers of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen hear Bach’s music with their bodies
A bare bulb hangs at the centre of the white stage. It is the only object in the room, setting the scene on a quiet axis. Around it, twelve dancers from Opera Ballet Vlaanderen stand in black cotton, with leather belts and Derby shoes. The clothes suggest concert dress, but stripped of ceremony. They look like players before a score, poised for the cue to move.
Christos Papadopoulos has expanded Opus from its original quartet to a larger cast. This decision matters. It does not make the piece louder, but exposes its inner mechanics. Bach’s Contrapunctus 1 from The Art of Fugue is no longer only heard. It is placed under a lamp. The stage takes on the quality of a blank sheet, and every joint inscribes a mark on it.
Contained Intensity
At first, al ...
Continue reading with the DIGITAL MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION to tanz – international edition
- Access all articles of tanz – international edition instantly online
- Optimized reading experience on all devices
- Full access to the complete online archive