Aarhus 2017 presents spectacular ballet in 2017
“We are co-commissioning this piece with some of the most innovative, creative organizations in the world – Manchester International Festival, Park Avenue Armory, Paris Opera Ballet, Sadler’s Wells and FAENA ART – putting Aarhus 2017 in excellent company. Exactly where we should be.” Rebecca Matthews
What happens when the oldest national ballet company in the world meets one of the leading modern dance companies of today to create a work of art inspired by a book by a best-selling author, in a scenic environment created by a gifted visual artist to the tones of an award-winning composer?
The answer is the contemporary ballet ‘Tree of Codes’, which will have its world premiere at this year’s Manchester International festival on July 3. The ballet is inspired by and shares its title with a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. A novel that is literally carved from the text of Bruno Schulz’ ‘Street of Crocodiles’. Words and phrases are cut from the pages of the original artwork to create an entirely different story in Safran Foer’s book.
The creative team has worked together over the last two years to make a contemporary ballet that responds to and rethinks this remarkable and beautiful artwork. In 2017, the ballet will visit Aarhus during the Capital of Culture year, with six performances in the Concert Hall.
CEO of Aarhus 2017 Rebecca Matthews is enthusiastic about the partnership with Manchester International Festival:
“I am absolutely thrilled that this collaboration with Manchester International Festival enables us to present such an exciting and ambitious project to our Danish and international audience in 2017. This project is a powerhouse of strong cultural capacities, with Danish and European artists joining forces and creating something unique and ambitious across the spectrum of different art forms,” says CEO of Aarhus 2017 Rebecca Matthews. She elaborates:
“The combination of The Paris Opera Ballet and Company Wayne McGregor will be beautifully accompanied by Olafur Eliasson’s incredible visual artistry and Jamie xx’ score. Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel is a piece of art that rethinks another novel; now, it will be rethought by an immensely talented group of people, which makes ‘Tree of Codes’ a perfect addition to our programme in 2017.”
“We are co-commissioning this piece with some of the most innovative, creative organizations in the world – Manchester International Festival, Park Avenue Armory, Paris Opera Ballet, Sadler’s Wells and FAENA ART – putting Aarhus 2017 in excellent company. Exactly where we should be,” says CEO of Aarhus 2017 Rebecca Matthews.
Tree of Codes
Director and choreographer: Wayne McGregor
Visual concept: Olafur Eliasson
Composer: Jamie xx
Novel: Jonathan Safran Foer
Commissioned by: Manchester International Festival, Park Avenue Armory, Pariseroperaens Ballet, Sadler's Wells, FAENA ART and European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017
