Goings-on Feb 24. Part I
It might be still cold outside but the agenda is getting hotter. At least in Berlin, Geneva, Zurich, Milan and Copenhagen
I have an absolutely crazy travelling schedule for February. Some of the trips are planned to attend the performances I’ll mention below, others dedicated to the field research in Cape Town and in Sao Paulo: any treasures found will be carefully reported on Instagram. Speaking of the European cultural agenda you will get this digest in three parts. Part I covers shows in Berlin, Geneva, Zurich, Milan and Copenhagen. Some of them I’ve already seen, others are selling out quickly, some shows would be a miracle to attend, some will be repeated later this year.
BERLIN
Feb 1-15/ Opera / George Benjamin and Martin Crimp’s Written on the Skin by Katie Mitchell / Deutsche Oper
I already mentioned it in the January digest. There are four more performances to come in February. But just to keep your attention on the magic combo – check out an old but good article in the NYT.
Berliners, shall we meet there on the 9th?
Feb 16, 19 & 23/ Ballet/ William Forsythe/ Deutsche Oper
You wouldn’t believe it (I don’t believe it myself), but I’ve never seen anything by Forsythe live. Yeah, it does sound horrible, but I prefer to be sincere. However, if I love his students so much, what are the chances that I would not like him? Pretty small, right?
I would try to be there in April or May. Staatsballett Berlin ads are pure art this season. Beauty, isn’t it?
Jan 27 - May 22 / Exhibition / Valie Export, Retrospective / C|O Berlin
She’s one of the world’s most influential media and performance artists of our times, it’s as simple as that. I haven’t seen her much in recent years.
GENEVE
Feb 2 & 3 / Ballet/ Chapter 3: The Brutal Journey of the Heart by Sharon Eyal / La Comédie de Genève
I saw the piece in the summer of 2021 during the Montpellier Dance Festival. It was a magical trip through Provence with my lovely friend Inese. To get there in time for this particular performance, we drove 5 hours non-stop from Nice airport, shazammed Ori Lichtik’s soundtrack under the seat and listening to it on repeat until the end of the trip. By the way, the costumes for the dancers were designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri (not my favourite fashion designer but this collaboration supports Dyagilev’s production approach).
ZURICH
Feb 7 / Ballet / Tambourines by Trajal Harrell / Schauspielhaus Zurich
Trajal Harrell is one of the choreographers I keep an eye on. Last year the Festival d’Automne presented his Portrait – it’s a shame I missed all the shows, but it’s a convenient note to keep track of Harrell’s performances.
Also, Cosi Fan Tutte by Serebrennikov is still on stage in OpernHaus Zurich (Feb 3, 7& 10)
MILAN
Feb 7/9/10/16/18 / Ballet/ Reveal, Skew-Whiff and Memento by Garrett Smith, Sol León & Paul Lightfoot and Simone Valastro/ Teatro alla Scala
Jan 28 - Apr 1 / Exhibition / Juergen Teller, I Need to Live / Triennale Milano
Parisians were very stressed last month, having only 3 weeks to see Juergen’s huge retrospective of over 500 photographs at the Grand Palais Ephemere in the midst of the pre-Christmas rush. The Triennale Milano is more generous with time and I hope they will not reduce the scale. In fact, I personally believe in investing in fashion photography: firstly it is often a powerful image, and secondly the price is still reasonable, while the artists are already superstars. Check out the Lehmann Maupin Gallery for a start.
BRUSSELS
Feb 13-17/ Ballet/ S 62° 58’, W 60° 39’ by Peeping Tom/ KVS
S 62° 58’, W 60° 39’ is one of Peeping Tom’s latest productions. It will be touring extensively around Europe in the upcoming months, popping-up every now and then. I haven’t had a chance to see it yet, but I’ve enjoyed most of Peeping Tom’s performances.
COPENHAGEN
Feb 9 -14.07 Chaim Soutine, Louisiana Museum
With this first ever Soutine exhibition in Northern Europe, Louisiana now makes it possible to discover his unique universe and works. Around 70 paintings will be presented here – on loan from museums and private collectors in Europe, Israel and USA.
I’ve seen a lot of Soutine’s shows but I’ll never miss one. There is an obvious curatorial trick of juxtaposing Soutine and Bacon – simple but a sure bet too.
+ extra bonus for my Israeli readers
JERUSALEM
Until Mar 9 / Exhibition / Thomas Demand, The Stutter of History / The Israel Museum
Before this exhibition I never understood Demand, moreover I never took him seriously. But it happens that exhibitions provide just the right angle to access the artist’s universe (pretty much the same experience I’ve had with David Hockney – which is now unbelievable). Demonstration (2023) is based on protests against judicial reform, which took place in Tel Aviv in February 2023. Living in historical times means being part of an event depicted by one of the greatest contemporary artists.
Truly hope you will find the Goings-On useful and/or inspiring. There will be two more parts of the February agenda in the coming weeks. In the meantime, don’t forget that I’m posting Book Now events on my instagram at least once a week, and some of them never make it to this digest, so these posts are worth following.
Yours,
Miri