| “The inspiration for this work was a composition entitled Nunc Dimittis by Arvo Pärt. The fact that the ballet is set to religious music gives it a mystical, supernatural dimension. Pärt wrote the music to the Canticle of Simeon, but this is an abstract ballet. There are no characters as such, do not expect to see the Virgin Mary, Jesus or Simeon”, Nacho Duato comments on the new ballet. The Canticle of Simeon (“Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum...”) is a canticle from a text in the second chapter of Luke. Simeon was a devout Jew who, according to the book of Luke, had been promised by the Holy Ghost that he would not die until he had seen the Saviour. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for the ceremony of consecration of the firstborn son, Simeon was there, and he took Jesus into his arms and uttered the words. The Nunc Dimittis is found in the liturgical office of many western denominations. Arvo Pärt’s music connected to the liturgical tradition and enriched by his spiritual experience in Duato’s ballet is supplemented by percussion compositions created by the Spanish composer David Azagra. The sets and costumes are designed by Nacho Duato; the lighting designer is Mikhail Mekler. The ballet is created for 15 dancers. The principal roles are rehearsed by Ekaterina Borchenko, Andrey Kasyanenko, and Evgeny Deryabin. Purchase tickets to the première of the Nacho Duato ballets |
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1833–2012 Mikhailovsky Theatre St. Petersburg
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Idea Fix