Goings-On May 24. Part I

15 amazing events in Basel, Vienna, Madrid and Stockholm

It’s already been three weeks since I announced my new schedule, and I haven’t kept it up at all - although, in my defense, I might have simply underestimated just how busy the Milan Design Week and Venice Biennale would be. I should probably work better on writings in advance. However, I’m proud to say that I have kept my Instagram account active for all this time (check the highlights for the best from MDW and la Biennale), and I had a lot of fun making some of those posts (like the one with streetstyle).

I’ll try to catch up as quickly as possible, so I can’t promise to keep the load low. So much is happening in both May and June, that this month I simply have to cover them simultaneously. This is the first part of May’s Goings-On, featuring 2 exhibitions, 5 ballets, 4 operas, 3 theater performances and 1 concert in 4 cities across Europe. Some of them I’ve already seen, others are selling out quickly, attending some shows would require a literal miracle, some of them can only be seen once, and some will have other showings later this year.

Until May 23 / Opera / Claudio Monteverdi’s L'incoronazione di Poppea by Christoph Marthaler / Theater Basel

Like advertised on the theater’s webpage, this opera is about ‘power games in Rome’. Although it premiered last week, it hasn't found many reviews in the international press. However I remain sure that being an outstanding and rough director, Marthaler did his usual excellent, swiss-style job. If not for my body’s resounding “no” to any travel in the immediate future, my curiosity might have forced me to go on a special trip just for this show.

3 May - 15 June / Opera / Mozart’s Requiem by Catellucci / Theater Basel

I was lucky enough to attend this performance twice and it is definitely a sublime experience. Every second is filled with beauty and delight. If you plan to travel to Art Basel (June 13-16), this is an amazing plan for the evening. 

3 May - 12 June / Dance / Stoffwechsel by La Ribot and Fabrice Mazliah / Theater Basel

La Ribot (María José Ribot) is a Spanish choreographer, who received a Biennale di Venezia Golden Lion for lifetime achievement in 2020. Stoffwechel comprises two performances - one from La Ribot, and another from Fabrice Mazliah (one of Forsythe's closest collaborators). Both choreographers are still presenting new pieces, and should definitely appear on bigger stages more often.

Until 18 August / Exhibition / Dan Flavin: Dedications in Lights / Kunstmuseum Basel

In the second half of the 20th century, Dan Flavin was one of the biggest artists working with light. It was only James Turrell who could compete with him for ‘the king of light’ title. I loved the curator’s decision to frame his works through references their titles made to concrete events, such as wartime atrocities or police violence, or as dedications to other artists. I rarely see major Flavin shows around Europe - this might even be the first one that I can remember. 

9-17 May / Opera / Thomas Ades’s The Tempest by Robert Lepage and Crystal Pite / Vienna State Opera

If we compare this to the film industry, imagine that Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Franzen and Beyonce came together to create a movie based on a Shakespeare play. That’s the kind of crew we got here. There are going to be only three performances, however tickets are still available, so put on your best evening gown and enjoy the grand event. 

30-31 May / Theater / Lacrima by Caroline Guiela Nguyen / Halle E in MuseumsQuartier

The festival season is officially open. As usual, it starts with Vienna and Wiener Festwochen. In 2017, Caroline Guiela Nguyen made the blockbuster production Saigon - her new show, Lacrima, is set to be at the biggest festivals this summer (including Avignon), and it sounds very promising: 

An Haute Couture house receives the unusual commission by the British princess to design a wedding dress. During eight months, various people are working on different parts of this secret project without knowing of the final product: the pattern maker in Paris, the lacemaker in Normandy and the hand embroiderer in Mumbai.

10-15 May / Performance opera / Sancta by Florentina Holzinger and Marit Strindlund / Halle E in MuseumsQuartier

Warning: Florentina is a harsh and ruthless director. If you have trouble watching horror movies, don’t even click on this link. However, the fact that I’ve never watched The Silence of the Lambs, doesn’t make it a bad movie - the same is true here. 

Setting out from Paul Hindemith’s one-act opera Sancta Susanna (premiered in 1922), she joins forces with an ensemble of opera singers, sex workers and body modification artists to investigate the way female identities and bodies are trimmed in religious systems and rites.

ALSO IN VIENNA THIS MONTH:

9 May / Dance / Assembly Hall by Kidd Pivot / St. Pölten, Austria

19-21 May / Theater / Barocco by Kirill Serebrennikov / Burgtheater

28 May / Concert / Asmik Grigorian’s Soloist Concert / Vienna State Opera

31 May - 2 June / Theater / Hamlet by Christiane Jatahy / Volkstheater

Until 14 July / Exhibition / Roy Lichtenstein / Albertina Museum

9-10 May / Dance / Age of Content by (LA)HORDE / Teatros del Canal

As I said before, La Horde have been rocking the international scene. They took a directorship at Ballet de Marseille only five years ago, and have already made it a sensation. Age of Content talks about the age at which the majority of people are legally considered to finally be autonomous enough to consent to sexual acts. But to what extent do we have control, consent, over our physical presence in the virtual world? Sixteen dancers from Ballet de Marseille move through a video game: past Instagram filters, TikTok dances, OnlyFans horniness, and action movie stunts.

22-23 May / Dance / Momo by Ohad Naharin and Batsheva Dance Company / Teatros del Canal

I envy anyone who lives in a European capital, since they get a national star almost for free and with easy booking. Here in Tel Aviv, I have to book Batsheva’s performances three months ahead of time. Please, don’t miss your chance to see my favorite Naharin’s performance - and I’ve seen many.

9-18 May / Ballet / Midsummer Night’s Dream by Alexander Ekman / Royal Swedish Ballet 

A classical piece by Alexander Ekman. It’s gorgeous, but if this isn’t your first Ekman performance, I would recommend skipping it, as it is quite old and that shows. Even then, if you have any kids ages 5 to 15, this is a chance to spend some amazing quality time together - they will be simply mesmerized. 

I missed writing these so much, and I’m so glad to be back on track. For those subscribers who noticed my disappearance, I send my warmest regards and biggest apologies. I hope the updated content of TJD and Instagram won’t disappoint you. 

In the past couple of weeks I’ve read Love in a Time of Hate by Florian Illies (loved it just as much as the previous book) and Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Read (this one disappointed me, I liked Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo way more).  currently I'm watching Palm Royale and A Gentleman in Moscow (starring Ewan McGregor, who fits the role perfectly). 

Ah, I almost forgot, for my Tel-Avivan subscribers (according to statistics, that’s my biggest demographic), I’ve made a list of 26 hottest spots in town. You can add it to your Google Maps right HERE. 

Have a nice week,

Miri