Avant Première 2020 featured fascinating World Music productions

Many productions at Avant Première 2020 focused on different regions and their traditional music + dances. In a year marked by an international health crisis – which makes it clear we are all in it together around the globe – it is only fitting to shine a light on World Music.

Many music + dance films presented at Avant Première focused on musical genres and traditions outside of European orchestras + opera houses. Here is an overview of World Music productions presented at the past edition of Avant Première:

EuroArts Music International had the productions “From The Depths Of The Soul – Foray Through The Musical Landscape Of Armenia” and “The Gypsy Influence”. The former is a musical voyage into a country that is one of the most remarkable and oldest cultural nations of the world. The latter shows the tremendous influence of so-called Gypsy music on classical composers from Haydn and Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms, to Lehár and Kálmán, Ligeti and Kurtág.

C Major Entertainment presented “Africa Rising”, a music documentary about Africa, which is taking the African renaissance as an opportunity to describe the major developments in African pop culture and their effect on the West, assisted by important stars and contemporary witnesses.

NHK – Japan Broadcasting Corporation presented two movies wich shine a light on Japanese traditions. “Bugaku Nasori” shows a dance duet titled Nasori performing Bugaku (Japanese Imperial court music and dance). “Young Stars Gather To Showcase The Present Shape Of Nippon’s Traditional Performing Arts” introduces four young performers who lead the world of traditional performing arts as the “faces of the era.”

Signed Media Produktion showcased with “In Times To Come” the tale of the resilient Garifuna people. Their music, dance and language have been declared by UNESCO to be “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” And in “MOVE! Africa” the Luxembourg dancer and choreographer Sylvia Camarda sets out on research expeditions to South Africa, Senegal and Tunisia to study dance, always in pursuit of the question: What moves us as human beings?

Sounding images presented “Ode To Joy – A Symphony For The World” which pinpoints the traces the symphony has left on four continents and offers profound insights into a work in which Beethoven sets out his vision of a utopia for all humankind.

And Visom Digital presented “Parintins – An Amazonic Opera”, shining a light on the biggest Folkloric Event in the world, which takes place in the very heart of the Amazonic Jungle.

You can find all +550 productions presented at Avant Première 2020 in the online Catalogue by clicking on the button below!