How can people preserve their humanity in the darkest days? This question is the starting point for a choreographic exploration, dedicated to all those who opposed fascism. The dedicated Sorbian teacher, journalist and philosopher Dr. Maria Grollmuß refused – together with her fellow prisoners – to be a victim in a concentration camp.
In order not to allow herself to be spiritually destroyed, they mobilised all forms of intellectual and cultural powers of resistance: memories, dances, music, fairy tales and old beliefs which took on an entirely new meaning in the catastrophe.
The evening will take up this theme and accomplishes this with two compositions by Bohuslav Martinů: for one thing with music for the ballet “Špalíček”, the insolent fairy tale of the cobbler who manages to befool the powers of destruction, death and the devil. For another thing, the “Field Mass” from 1939 by Martinů gives poignant expression to the call from great abandonment in a hopefully not empty heaven.
To this end, the letters which Maria Grollmuß wrote to her sister from imprisonment will be quoted. The choreography by Mia Facchinelli tells of reflectiveness and the high spirits of life which is repeatedly expressed, as well as defiant self-assertion and self-assurance in the midst of the greatest hardship.
Premiere: 21st of September 2019
CAST Ballet, orchestra, choir and soloists of the Sorbian National Ensemble
VOICE Gabriela Maria Schmeide (speaker – recording in different languages possible)
CONDUCTOR Judith Kubitz
MUSIC Bohuslav Martinů
CHOREOGRAPHY Mia Facchinelli
LIBRETTO, SETS/COSTUMES, DRAMATURGY Wilfried Buchholz
PROGRAMME DURATION: ca 80 min., plus break and introd. of play