Mahler, Live - Schläpfer & van Manen

“Mahler, Live” is a dialogue between two outstanding ballets, the world premiere of “4” by Martin Schläpfer and Hans van Manen‘s icon of dance history “Live”.

His works fascinate with their intensity, virtuosity, touching images and a concise language of movement, which is understood as making music with the body, but always reflects moods and questions of our time.

On 4 December 2020, the new director of the Vienna State Ballet Martin Schläpfer not only presents his first own program at the Vienna State Opera with the premiere “Mahler, Live” but also introduce himself as choreographer with his world premiere “4” to Gustav Mahler‘s 4th Symphony. The result is a great ballet for the entire ensemble, which is preceded by an icon of dance history at the opening of the evening, with Hans van Manen‘s “Live”.

For Martin Schläpfer music is a central basis of his work. Whether a large symphony or a chamber music miniature - the scores he chooses are usually the starting point for his works, provide the framework with their architectures, supply the energy for his tension-filled movement images. For his first Viennese choreography, the new ballet director enters into an intensive dialogue with Gustav Mahler‘s 4th Symphony.

Hans van Manen‘s “Live” is the first video ballet in dance history and a masterful puzzle game with the mechanisms of perception. First performed in Amsterdam in 1979, “Live” has so far been danced exclusively by Het Nationale Ballett. With this new production in Vienna, Hans van Manen entrusts his work to another company for the first time.

Original title Mahler, Live
Genre Ballet
Recording location Vienna State Opera, December 2020
Duration approx. 90 mins
Production Company A coproduction of ORF, C Major Entertainment, UNITEL and ZDF in cooperation with ARTE and Vienna State Opera
Composer Gustav Mahler & Franz Liszt
Orchestra / Band Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera
Conductor Axel Kober
Choreography by Martin Schläpfer & Hans van Manen
Dance Company Soloists and Corps de ballet of the Vienna State Ballet