Review-Iphigenia in Tauris-Hong Kong Arts Festival
13-3-14
By: Meaghan McGurgan
Pina Bausch’s Iphigenia in Tauris is a dance/opera. What is a dance/opera? It is a blending of the two styles together that uses the storytelling and musical elements of classical opera and blends them with the movement and physicality of modern dance. Dance/opera was a really popular genre in the 70’s and 80’s, which makes sense because this piece was created in 74. It’s a new way to tell classic stories in interesting ways. I’ve seen Pina Bausch’s work before. I was lucky enough to get seats to Carnations at HKAF a few years ago and I was intrigued by her style of choreography. Her use of repetition, circular arms and her ability to show deep human emotion through dance is beautiful to watch. Iphigenia is a lot darker than Carnations was and much slower paced but still an enjoyable production.
What I really liked about the production was the starkness and lack of color in the theatrical design. Everything was monochromatic which made the skin of the dancers really pop out against this sea of black and white. Very few set pieces were used and most of the huge stage was left open as playing space. Bausch’s choreography filled the huge void that is the Cultural Center stage. The flys and lighting instruments were left bare bones and used as set devices. The raw elements in the design made us never forget we were in a theatre.
One of the most powerful moments in the piece is where the element of silence was used. No song is sung, no word is uttered on stage as the audience waits to see a character’s fate. The lead up to this moment is beautiful and it truly showcases the power of silence on stage.
Something I had issues with was the sound balance of tonight’s production. The Cultural Center’s acoustics are designed to throw sound from the front to the back. Because the soloists were in the boxes we sometimes had trouble understanding all their words. This position in the theatre didn’t help them project their voices forward and the live orchestra would often overwhelm them. I had more trouble understanding the female singers but it may have been that my seat in the theatre didn’t put me in the best position for hearing their beautiful voices.
Did I understand everything in tonight’s production? Nope. I got a little confused on who was what character and where the plot was going at times. I actually recommend you read a summary of the script beforehand. I had a lot of trouble keeping the narrative straight. Did I think it was beautiful? Yes. Bausch's choreography is stunning. The dancers are amazingly talented and the music is beautiful. Did I enjoy myself? Absolutely. Iphigenia in Tauris may not be for every audience member but for those audience members who appreciate opera and modern dance it is a truly enjoyable night at the theatre and money well spent.
Iphigenia in Tauris is sold out! For more information, click here.
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