"And the Rains Will Pass" a Ballet by Krzysztof Pastor in 3 scenes, with music by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki. Photo by Ewa Krasucka/ Teatr Wielki
A project especially for the Polish National Ballet with the music of Henryk Górecki, prepared by choreographer Krzysztof Pastor
"And the Rains Will Pass" / "I przejdą deszcze…" is inspired by Polish history and the contemporary ballet movement. The title of the new production is taken from the poetry of Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński.
The Warsaw-based National Ballet has performed three of Pastor's creations in previous seasons ("Tristan", "Kurt Weill" and "In Light and Shadow"), all of which first premiered abroad before their staging in the Polish capital. This is the first show Pastor put together with the Polish National Ballet specifically in mind.
The work comes as a result of a need on the part of the choreographer to articulate certain Polish subjects close to his heart. Inspiration is found in historical events already presented numerous times by a variety of Polish artists, as well as Polish contemporary music, which is able to convey with a great degree of intensity the emotions linked with these particular events. After a long stay abroad, he noticed more scars and evidence of suffering in Warsaw than in any other city. He was inspired by images from literature and films showing traumatic moments in Polish history. Most importantly, however, once again he chose the moving and dramatic music of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki.
The musical work was not originally composed for ballet, but it does bring to the production a host of innovatory elements, as well as the opportunity of finding new choreographic forms and means of expression. This is but one of the elements apparent in the newly revamped Polish National Ballet's programming philosophy.
Pastor has made use of Górecki's music in the past, specifically his Third Symphony, in choreographing productions for the Great Theatre Ballet in Warsaw (1994), as well as the Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam (1996).
He has previously borrowed from Górecki for his production of "Moving Rooms", which premiered in a performance by the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam as part of the Holland Festival 2008. Pastor was not attempting to narrate any specific story in any of these ballets, but joined together with the music of an accomplished composer, they elicited a strong impression based solely on pure choreographic forms.
This time, Pastor has once again turned to the music of Górecki in order to more closely relate to certain Polish historical experiences, presenting them through a prism of shared emotions. The title of the new production is taken from the poetry of Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński.
"And the Rains Will Pass" makes use of four of Górecki's works: Beatus Vir, Op. 38 - a psalm for solo baritone, mixed choir and orchestra; Quasi una fantasia, Op. 78, for string orchestra; Kleines Requiem für eine Polka, Op. 66, for piano and thirteen instruments; and Salve, sidus Polonorum, Op. 72, for large mixed choir, organ, two pianos and percussion.
The world premiere received a lot of publicity in Poland and internationally. "Tygodnik Powszechny" described Pastor's ballet as "a reckoning with the demons of Poland's most recent history and the 'God and fatherland' vision of historical politics".
Poland, situated in the centre of Europe and tugged at from every side by expansionist empires, has suffered a great deal throughout history. However, she never lost her strong sense of cultural identity, as safeguarded in her literature, painting, theatre, music and dance. (…) Krzysztof Pastor was sent to ballet school as a result of his excess of energy, and at every turn in his career he chose the more difficult and more interesting road, as opposed to the safer option. His dancing career brought him into contact with an impressive array of recognized choreographers, and the ideas he introduced to his own choreographies are likewise varied as a result. With regard to music, he is drawn to those examples that speak to him, regardless of whether it is complicated (like Lutosławski) or comparatively more simplistic (like Mozart). He behaves similarly with his collaborators, accepting friction-filled relationships that in the end prove fruitful and interesting. His readiness to accept new challenges will prove useful in his new project, to revitalise the Warsaw ensemble.
(Maggie Foyer, Dance Europe
"And the Rains Will Pass" a ballet by Krzysztof Pastor in four parts, to the music of Henryk Górecki. Conductor: Wojciech Michniewski; Stage Management and Lighting: Bert Dalhuysen; Costumes: Yumiko Takeshima. Rubi Pronk, Polish National Ballet, the Choir and Orchestra of the National Opera, as well as Adam Kruszewski (baritone).
"And the Rains Will Pass" premiered at the Grand Theatre - National Opera on the 27th of March 2011.
Repeats performances on the 24th of September 2011 at 19:00, 25th of September at 18:00 and final performance on the 28th of September at 19:00.
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