MEDUSA*ODE

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Medusa*Ode combines myth, shipwreck and current occasions. „The Raft of Medusa“, Théodore Géricault's monumental historic painting turns into a reflection of our time. Presented by Bert Gstettner, Hannes Mlenek and Günther Rabl.

The head of Medusa embodies the boundless horror, we are afraid to find in ourselves – through the head-mask, all bad turns visible and at the same time banished in the reflecting mirror. (rfh) 

As in the first realisation of Medusa*Expedit, the title of the piece Medusa*Ode is inspired by its place of performance. From the initial Expedit-ion at the huge Expedit Hall in a former bread factory, we now perform an „Ode to Medusa“ in the enchanting atmosphere of the OdeonTheatre. Working in three different fields, the artists Gstettner (choreography, performance), Mlenek (images, performance) and Rabl (composition) let their respective means of expression interact to create a performance that challenges all senses.

Theatre premiere: March 11-12/2016, 8:00 PM, Odeon | Taborstraße 10, 1020 Vienna
American Dance Guild Performance Festival: September 9/2017, 8:00 PM, The Ailey Citigroup Theater | 405 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019-4402, United States | More>>>

 

At the centre of our danced, painted and musical ode is a true story. The events on board the Frigate Medusa, which was shipwrecked off the coast of West Africa in 1816, have found their artistic counterpart and reworking in the painting „The Raft of the Medusa“ by French Painter Théodore Géricault. Medusa*Ode goes beyond the historical events and follows the myth of Medusa to its origin – the fate of the eerie Gorgon and the protective magic connected to her beautiful and terrible appearance. Thus, Medusa*Ode touches upon and connects the fateful myth, the unforgotten human failure of the historic shipwreck and the contemporary tragedies of refugees fleeing over the seas – to offer a glimpse of a better future.


All pics: Bernd Uhlig, Vienna 2016

Report with pics Medusa*Expedit, DerStandard Rondo (ger)

TEAM

CHOREOGRAPHY, STAGE, PERFORMANCE1 Bert Gstettner
  SPACE, INSTALLATION, PERFORMANCE
Hannes Mlenek 
  COMPOSITION, ACOUSTIC PRESENTATION2
Günther Rabl

  LIGHT DESIGN Klaus Greif | STAGING Noemi FischerSOUND ENGINEERING Klaus Gstettner RECORDED VOICE3 Lilly Prohaska
COSTUME SUPERVISION4
Hanna Adlaoui Mayerl CONTENT-RELATED ASSISTANT Reinhard F. Handl | ASSISTANCE Claudia Engel
VIDEO, DOCUMENTATION
Ulrich Kaufmann, Sigrid Friedmann | ORGANISATION Claudia Bürger
PRODUCTION 
Tanz*Hotel / Art*Act Kunstverein
SUPPORT
WienKultur, Wien Leopoldstadt, Bildrecht GmbH, NÖ Kultur

 1Performance involving two songs: O Cessate di Piagarmi (Allessandro Scarlatti, 1660-1775). There is a Balm in Gilead (trad. African-American Spiritual)
2Parts of the electroacoustic composition GAMMA - based on recordings of the japanese Koto-player Chieko Mori and previously unreleased improvisation with Chieko Mori koto, Michael Galasso violin, Frank Colon percussion (recorded at The Looking Glass Studio, Broadway, N.Y. 2001)
3Text extracts from 'Der Schiffbruch der Fregatte Medusa' (Factual report by J.B. Heinrich Savigny und Alexandre Corrèard, 1816/17)
4Costumes are designed by Devi Saha and Bert Gstettner at the first realisation Medusa*Expedit. Mask of Medusa is made by Vesna Tusek.

 

www.canto-crudo.com | www.mlenek.at | www.lichtlink.com
WienKultur | www.bildrecht.at | NÖ Kultur