PITIÉ!

The word ‘compassion’ is a controversial term which, when tainted by too much clarification, can often appear patronising. However, when life (and death) becomes unbearable, we long for the support of others who feel for us and who take pity on us. The Belgian company, Les Ballets C. de la B., its founder and choreographer Alain Platel and composer Fabrizio Cassol (who both previously worked together in 2006 on the production vsprs) present pitié!, a work based on Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Ten dancers, a soprano, a mezzo-soprano and a contratenor triumph in giving a portrayal of the person who posed the question: For who would we be prepared to sacrifice our life? A choreography which translates the heightening of the emotions into movement and which aspires to transcend the individual.

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