2023. Moscow

The idea to stage the ballet "Liturgy" dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. Sergei Diaghilev, Leonid Myasin and Natalia Goncharova planned to show the ballet without music - the only sound would be the rhythm of steps. They even wanted to involve Igor Stravinsky, who, however, refused. The production never took place.

Choreographer Olga Tsvetkova's new big project was created in co-authorship with composer Sergei Akhunov. For several years he had been working on the music for the ballet "Liturgy" - a production that was never realized in the early twentieth century.


“This production is not a ballet in the traditional sense of the word. It is, rather, an action in which, in addition to the dancers, other participants on stage are included. The main task is not to recreate the Orthodox church liturgy, but to reflect its beauty and deep meanings through music and dance."

— Sergei Akhunov.

"In working on this ballet I feel like a transcendental seamstress who creates a carpet from different patchworks and threads. You can find many details and microquotes referring to the early works of Vatslav Nijinsky, Leonid Myasin, George Gurdjieff and other iconic choreographers for me. The images I work with flicker between the recognizable, like a bird or death, and the completely abstract. I am interested in the collision of different realities and times, the multi-layered structure of the choreography. I see my task as combining all this eclectic material into a very clear and transparent pattern. What is most important is to capture a sense of beauty and sublimity of spirit that evokes an instant sensual involvement of the viewer. This flash of recognition is different for everyone."

— Olga Tsvetkova.

Akhunov combines allusions to Stravinsky's music with elements of Old Russian chanting, and this combination is very much in line with Olga Tsvetkova's interests - avant-garde experimentation on the one hand, and the experience of the sublime on the other.

Composer - Sergey Akhunov

Choreographer - Olga Tsvetkova

Contemporary dance theater "Kannon Dance":
Adelina Alchinova, Vladislav Borisov, Jie Fu Wang, Kristina Vasilchikova, Pavel Gasimov, Eduard Gladunov, Alexey Moroz, Olga Ogorodnikova, Olga Perminova, Daria Piterova, Irina Pozdeeva, Anna Chirkina.

Vocal ensemble Intrada
Artistic director and conductor - Ekaterina Antonenko

OpensoundOrchestra
Conductor — Stanislav Malyshev
Costume Designer — Sergey Illarionov
Light design — Anatoly Lyapin

Production:
Zaryadye Concert Hall, Moscow / 2023

Preview

Press:

Dance body (St. Petersburg theater magazine)
Centennial Liturgy (Bez Falshi)

Science аrticle by Ekaterina Vasenina:
Link
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