Song of the dark forest
Song of the dark forest is a moving, compelling and comforting performance, performed by the complete group of dancers of Scapino, an opera singer and live music by the DoelenEnsemble. It sings the tragic song of war. An unknown soldier, hovering between life and death, longs to return to his loved ones but is also haunted by memories of the battlefield. With poignant songs and dance by four choreographers, this timeless story comes to life.
Musically, a leading role is given to the work of Dmitri Shostakovich. In times of war and oppression, his music was a source of hope and comfort for many. Songs by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Rachmaninov will also be heard from which an unmistakable pacifist message emerges, as well as a melancholy longing for better times. It concludes with Sergei Akhunov's recent "Prayer for Peace". That title is a true motto for the entire performance.
In 2019/2020, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam successfully collaborated for the first time with the high-profile OPERA2DAY in the production Opera Melancholica, starring dancer Ellen Landa. Artistic director Ed Wubbe then invited director Serge van Veggel to create a performance with four top choreographic talents and the leading DoelenEnsemble from Rotterdam.
Credits
Artistic direction
Ed Wubbe
Concept
Serge van Veggel (OPERA2DAY)
Choreography
Diego Sinniger de Salas
Miller de Nobili
YoY Performing Arts
Dancers
Our full tableau
Music
DoelenEnsemble (led by Maarten van Veen & Arie van Beek)
Singer / Bas-Bariton
Andrii Ganchuk, Wiebe Pier Cnossen
Arranger
Henk de Vlieger
Scenography
Herbert Janse
Light design
Jasper Nijholt
Costume design
Petra Finke
Made possible by: Ministerie van OCW, Gemeente Rotterdam, Brighter World, Erasmusstichting, G. Ph. Verhagenstichting, PWC, STOER, Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds
OPERA2DAY
OPERA2DAY creates opera performances, combining relevant stories, compelling music and powerful staging to give the audience a meaningful experience.
Artistic director and director Serge van Veggel is known for his conceptual approach, often fusing opera with other genres. The fusion of music, song and theatre can move, surprise, amuse and inspire - as well as deeply touch the soul and make emotional and social issues palpable. Thus, OPERA2DAY has developed into an innovative and high-profile company that manages to reinvent the genre of opera and individual opera titles for today's audiences.
In our digital program book, Serge talks about the creation of this performance and the need to create this.
Choreographers
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Diego Sinniger de Salas
"Where do the memories we call good or bad memories come from? In my piece, I focus on the importance of appreciating thoughts in an intense and painful way. On blending different aspects of a trauma or a good memory associated with the misfortune of war. How can we heal from what happened to us?" -
Miller de Nobili
"In Song of the dark forest we we want to depict life in a rollercoaster of emotions. The story of the unique individuals emphasises the importance of family bonds and captures the serene but restless silence before a 'storm', as the characters search for love and connection in all its possible shades." -
YoY Performing Arts
"How do you embody the memories of someone who lived through a war? We drew inspiration from formations and hand signs associated with military codes around the world. We then deconstructed these codes from a contemporary dance perspective, making they became the alphabet, the language, expressing a separation of body and mind."
DoelenEnsemble
The DoelenEnsemble has become a leading player in the field of contemporary classical music in Rotterdam and the Netherlands. Surprising, renewing and connecting are central to the DoelenEnsemble's mission.
The collaboration with parties in this production is unique. Artistic director and conductor Maarten van Veen says: "I hope that as a spectator you take home an experience you really never forget, there is still so much beauty to discover in the collaboration, where 1+1 really becomes 3."
In our digital program book you will find Maarten's explanation of the performance's choice of music. You can download the translations of the songs here.
