Coming Together

Coming Together

2022, The German Dance Award 2022 | AALTO-THEATER ESSEN

about the piece

The composition ‘Coming Together’ is based on a letter from the bomber Sam Melville, who was killed shortly afterwards during a prison riot in Attica, N.Y. The riot, which went down in history as the ‘Attica Riots,’ was the bloodiest and largest prison riot in the history of the USA. The letter written by Sam Melville shortly beforehand stands in apparent contrast to the events and gives them a different perspective.

The composer Frederic Rzewski, who died in 2021, composed music that supports the text in every way. Although intensified in expression, it remains clearly understandable until the end. The music thus realizes an optimism that has almost utopian dimensions despite the devastating outcome of this revolt. To this day, for example, a choreography by Nacho Duato is performed by ballet ensembles all over the world, which suppresses this background to the composition.

Our interpretation deals with bodies in ‘revolt.’ How do people organize themselves, for example, during clashes at demonstrations, both figuratively and emotionally? From this material, we have tried to create a ‘Coming Together’ that has to be realized again and again in the moment of the performance.

videos

Coming Together - The German Dance Award 2022 | Aalto Theater - Essen

Coming Together - Kühlhaus - Berlin

credits

Concept: Christoph Winkler | Music: Zafraan Ensemble - Flute: Liam Mallett - Saxophone: Martin Posegga - Clarinet: Miguel Pérez Iñesta - Vibraphone: Julius Heise - Piano: Clemens Hund-Göschel - Violine: Emmanuelle Bernard - Viola: Josa Gerhard - Violoncello: Martin Smith | Composition: Julius Eastman | By and with: Oluwafemi Israel AdebajoLisa RykenaAloalii TapuRidwan RasheedRaha NejadSophie Prins, Andromeda Gervásio | Speaker: Howard Katz | Costume: Marie Akoury | Video contribution: Vadim EpsteinMatthias Härtig | Technical management: Fabian Eichner Production management: Laura Biagioni

A production by Company Christoph Winkler in co-production with SOPHIENSÆLE.
Supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe and the Federal Cultural Foundation with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

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