Goings-On. May Pt. II - June Pt. I
22 outstanding events in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Paris and Lyon
There are many ways to distinguish yourself from other people. For instance, I used to believe that there were ‘people of the process’ and ‘people of the result’. Until very recently I was sure that the beauty of life lies in its spontaneous character, which makes the result the most desirable goal - the rest is just enduring the trudge between point A and point B. During an intense session with my therapist a few weeks ago, as I was crying out that nothing brought me joy anymore, she asked me: “What is generally joyful for you?“. My immediate answer was: “Routine!” That’s how I figured out that the process also plays a big role in my sense of vitality and miracle. So, I canceled all the unessential trips and filled the calendar with basic weekly tasks - boxing and HIIT trainings, Hebrew classes on Monday and Thursday, flower shopping on Wednesday, attending Shabbat dinners, a ‘no meetings’ day dedicated to research, reading in the morning, Saturday brunch with friends, writing on Friday, etc. And you know what, I started to feel joyful again. In the end, I had zero regards for my original view of life being ruined.
This dispatch of Goings-On turned out exceptional - it looks very good as a whole thing on its own. I’ve taken the all-around-Europe approach again, covering both May and June events in seven cities: Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Paris and Lyon. Here you will find 13 ballets, 3 theater shows, 2 concerts, 4 exhibitions and 1 festival. This is the last edition featuring May events - for smaller weekly content check my Instagram on Mondays.
May 29 / Ballet / From London with Love by Hofesh Schecter / TR25 Rotterdam
If there was a rating of the most important contemporary choreographers in the world, Hofesh surely would be in the top 10. Don’t miss this exclusive performance of his latest work (I also wrote about it here).
May 29 - 31 / Ballet / SKID by Damien Jalet and Wild Poetry by Hofesh Shechter / Amare Den Haag
Gotenburgballet took its major productions on tour. Phenomenal SKID has been featured on this blog before, and the show also includes the beautiful Wild Poetry by the above-mentioned Hofesh Shechter.
May 31 - June 14 / Theater / Prima Facie by Eline Arbo / International Theater Amsterdam
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller is a blockbuster, bestseller, hit and cultural touchstone, which has impacted the system far further than just theater and literature. Tessa (the only character in the play) is a successful lawyer, whose views on the justice system are challenged after she becomes a victim of sexual harassment. Originally staged starring Jodie Comer, it absolutely rocked the West End. The Observer reported that copies of the original script were included in training for new judges. I guess there are many ways to learn, huh?
June 4 / Concert / Grigory Sokolov / Amare Den Haag
The Russian grandmaster arrives with a programme of Bach, Chopin and Schumann. He manipulates music with such conviction that despite its self-evident beauty, it still sounds like something completely new.
June 6-7 / Concert / Rite of Spring by Christiane Jatahy / Westergas - Gashouder, Amsterdam
Music is usually added to film last, but it is the other way around this evening: two film makers made a film for existing compositions that will be performed live by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Cappella Amsterdam led by Karina Canellakis.
June 21-23 / Theater / Hamlet by Christiane Jahaty / International Theater Amsterdam
In Christiane Jatahy’s unconventional interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic, Hamlet wakes up, after four centuries of being the quintessence of male melancholy, as a grown woman looking to get things straight with her past.
June 25-27 / Dance / The Romeo by Trajal Harrel / International Theater Amsterdam
Harrel spotlights Romeo and separates him from Juliet (and I’ve just realized that I never thought of him as an individual outside the story). As for Harrel’s choreography it makes Romeo even more interesting to explore.
ALSO:
Until 14 July / Exhibition / Marina Abramovic / Stedelijk Museum
May 11-31 / Dance/ Il Cimento dell’Armonia e dell’Inventione by Anne Teresa de Keersmaker and Radouan Mriziga / La Monnaie
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Radouan Mriziga use Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons to question if we still have four seasons and force us to think about the impending climate crisis.
June 21-23 / Performance / Ophelia’s Got Talent by Florentina Holzinger / De Singel Brussels
Florentina, being one of the most radical directors I know, is prime festival material. I’d recommend it only to those who are ready for a rough, powerful experience.
ALSO:
May 23-29 / Ballet / FASE, FOUR MOVEMENTS TO THE MUSIC OF STEVE REICH by Rosas, Theater 't Eilandje, Antwerp
May 23-25 / Ballet / Peeping Tom: Tryptich / ØSTRE GASVÆRK TEATER
This has been featured many times, which makes it less interesting to talk about. I thought about no longer mentioning it, but then I imagined someone had never seen it and since I didn’t mention it, would never see it. No way! It’s beautiful and should be seen by everyone.
May 30 - June 01 / Ballet / Into the Hairy by Sharon Eyal / ØSTRE GASVÆRK TEATER
No dispatch is complete without Sharon Eyal! This performance made the selections list almost every month since the launch, but last month I finally attended it and it seems like Sharon had managed to create a performance which is a clear metaphor for la petite mort.
June 12-13 / Ballet / Hammer by Alexander Ekman / Copenhagen Royal Opera House
The latest performance by Alexander Ekman created for Gothenburg Ballet, who started to tour with this piece after having had it in his repertoire for two years. Copenhagen is the first destination and surprisingly I’ll have a chance to see it - can’t wait.
June 12-14 / Festival / 3 Days of Design / All over city
Danish and Scandinavian design are a dignified definition of clear beauty. Three days in Copenhagen will be dedicated to all types of exhibitions, talks and other events. I’m going to be reporting the highlights on Instagram.
ALSO:
Until May 20 / Exhibition/ Alberto Giacometti, What Meets the Eye / SMK Copenhagen
Until July 14 / Exhibition/ Chaim Soutine / Louisiana Museum
May 22-25 / Ballet / Ballet de l’Opera National du Rhein feat. Child, Bouche, Forsythe/ Theatre de la Ville
Only an hour and 40 minutes, but it’s full of cross-connections between Haruki Murakami, Max Richter, 1989 and the biblical tale of Jacob, not even mentioning the outstanding dance school of Ballet de Rhin.
May 23- June 6 / Ballet / Requiem(s) by Angelin Preljocaj / Chaillot Paris
The latest piece by Preljocaj explores the requiems of Verdi, Mozart, Ligeti and Fauré. It will be the first performance out the artist's residency at Pavilion Noir (Aix-en-Provence).
May 27-30 / Ballet / Boston Ballet feat. Jorma Elo, William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián/ Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
Unfortunately, the American dance scene is still a mystery to me, but Boston Ballet’s world-wide fame couldn’t escape even me. The programme also includes Blake Works III by William Forsythe, Bella Figura by Jiří Kylián and Bach Cello Suites by Jorma Elo.
ALSO:
Until July 1 / Exhibition / Brancusi / Centre Pompidou
May 22-24 / Ballet / Portrait by Mehdi Kerkouche / Maison de la danse
With Portrait, Mehdi Kerkouche wishes to explore intra-family relationships by crossing a universe halfway between burlesque and contemporary. Distance, disappearance, love and connections are all topics that will come to life on set.
June 21-25 / Ballet / Jan Martens, Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar, Aina Alegre, Harris Gkekas by Young CNSMD Ballet / Maison de la Dance Lyon
Four complicated choreographers hand their creations to a young ensemble of more than 60 great students, and I bet their youthful energy is going to make this much more fun than you can expect!
Last week, I started Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (I enjoyed Dear Edward both as a novel and as a series), watched The Idea of You starring Anne Hathaway (damn, she is so hot!) as well as Freud's Last Session (somehow I missed the story of Anna Freud, so I intend to do more research on her), and I’m extremely happy to start the third season of Hacks (just great jokes).
Enjoy the week!
Yours,
Miri
Love your take on the routine and totally agree, nice routines make lives so good! Coincidentally started “Hello Beautiful” today and have been contemplating the Anne Hathaway movie for some time, would love to exchange opinions at some point xx also happy birthday to the Country, Am Israel Chai!