Photo: Tommy Ga-Ken WanFaith, hope, humanity and mortality are explored in Cryptic’s unique David Lang double bill. Read more …
Lang’s Pulitzer Prize winning The Little Match Girl Passion combines Hans Christian Anderson’s heartbreaking tale with J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion. In a unique presentation of this previously un-staged masterpiece, vocal ensemble, percussion and dancer bring the story of the little match girl to life.
The world to come is Lang’s breathtaking interpretation of man’s journey from the physical to the spiritual world of the afterlife. world to come takes its visual structure from Jewish eschatology, in which humans die, this world disintegrates, there is void, and a new unimaginable, everlasting world is formed.
Performed by Southbank Centre Artist in Residence cellist Oliver Coates this atmospheric and meditative piece will be accompanied by hauntingly beautiful visuals by Irish video artist Jack Phelan.
Armstrong emphasises the spiritual hope of the score without losing the serious social comment: beautiful and moving, The Little Match Girl Passion nevertheless provokes compassion and lives up to Cryptic’s boast that they ravish the senses.
Artful, sobering and somehow timely stuff.
While Lang's fragmented, overlapping score is safe...Emma Snellgrove's movement is surplus to requirements.
Exquisite...sung to perfection.
This double bill at the Traverse is a perfect example of both the very best and very worst of Cryptic Theatre’s nature.
To say that one’s senses are ‘ravished’, is perhaps too strong a term.
Passion play finds its voice
Tron Theatre, Glasgow from Thursday November 10, 2011, until Saturday November 12, 2011. 7.45pm. More info: www.tron.co.uk
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday November 22, 2011, until Wednesday November 23, 2011. More info: www.traverse.co.uk
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