THE CHORUS: WHAT IS TRAGEDY FOR?

A site specific project by Juan Navarro

SYNOPSIS

A popular choir made up of blind people decides to rewrite the four movements that make up Beethoven's 9th Symphony. A sort of Chorifeo who knows the rules of the stage helps them with the score and the stage movements. They don't want to use instrumentation, only their voices will take over the new experimental score. During the rehearsals, the group talks about the tragedies, fears and problems of today's society. They do not come to any conclusions
What is tragedy for? In reality, what they seek is to understand Beethoven's head and body, the relentless deafness that completely isolated him from the world, and his desire to free humanity from something, perhaps tragedy.

A few years after the great success of the 9th came the composer's death, and in his last throes he said: Clap your hands, friends, the comedy is over.

The Choir What is tragedy for? It is a site specific project that will be developed with choirs from different cities in Europe during 2023 and 2024.

THE PROPOSAL

Why does the choir sing?

THE CHOIR will try to answer the questions that society generates with respect to its current functioning, especially deepening on the tragedies that accompanied us this XXI Century, in some cases caused by the desire of a person. How do collective tragedies affect the course of our lives? These concerns about desire and tragedy will be the driving force for the research and creation of the dramaturgy and the musical score.

The Choir. Collective identity, individual identity.

Being part of a choir represents approaching artistic expression in essence. Singing and dancing as a collective implies assuming a certain loss of one's own identity, being part of the group.

History of the choir

In classical times, the chorus was made up of unemployed Athenian citizens who were exempted from military service, for example, by the city, by means of a public subsidy, among other things. During the time of preparation of the plays before the premiere, the state paid all expenses for costumes, physical and vocal training. The Chorus gave voice to the questions of citizens who wanted to understand the workings of democracy: How do we learn to live with the enemy, who may be our neighbour or brother (The Orestiad); How should freedom be preserved in the face of autocratic tyranny (The Persians); What is our responsibility for the dead after a terrible and bloody conflict (Antigone). The Chorus thus becomes the origin of tragedy according to Nietzsche. The citizens who take the stage become the mirror of the lives of these other citizens.
without a presence in public life. The Chorus provides background information that sheds light on the problems of everyday life, makes us recognise what is happening out of sight of the spectators. It is in essence the ideal spectator, insofar as it is the only visionary observer of a world hitherto unrepresented on the stage. The Chorus is the first germ

Methodology for the creation

Throughout the year 2022 and 2023 a series of Research Laboratories have been held in different countries, where we have addressed both the musical and choreographic concerns of the choir, as well as the conceptual questions suggested to us by our relationship with the tragedy of others and personal tragedy. We have also carried out an artistic residency with the whole direction team, expanded in the whole artistic file, where we have finished designing the scenic device that is related to each specific city.

ARTISTIC FILE

Direction and creation: JUAN NAVARRO
Musical direction and composition: JORDI LALANZA
Assistant director: MANEL BARNILS
Interpretation: JUAN NAVARRO y MERCEDES LOSADA
Stage space: MANEL BARNILS
Technical direction and lighting: FERDY ESPARZA
Production ANTIC TEATRE
Executive Production MOUSIKÉ
In special collaboration with Teatros del Canal: CORO FERMÍN GURBINDO (ONCE
Madrid) dirigido por IGNACIO PARRES.
Collaboration: GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA. DEPARTAMENT DE CULTURA /
GRUPO SOCIAL ONCE / TEATROS DEL CANAL.
Thanks THE WALL RECORDS / L’ANIMAL A L’ESQUENA / LA INFINITA /
TEATRO ENSALLE

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