The only dance piece by Bertolt Brecht is actually a mixture of dance, cantatas, and short operatic compositions that transform the Seven Deadly Sins of Christian tradition into bourgeois virtues. The linking of social rise with moral decline is made clear through seven images portraying the adaptability, the lack of principles, the susceptibility to seduction, and the strengths and weaknesses of the family daughter, Anna. Anna I and Anna II are played by two persons.
It often occurs in Asian theatre, and it was the case in Shakespeare's time, that women's roles were portrayed by men, and I find this particularly interesting.
This is the basis for the artificiality, the estrangement, and the exorbitance of the actors. Weill must have considered that the role of the mother would be sung by a bass. It is very rewarding to push this concept further in gesture, movement, and singing, and to transform it into dramatic portrayal.
Dietmar Seyffert
The new orpheus
Cantata for soprano, solo-violin and orchestra (1925)
Duration of performance: 20 minutes
| Inszenierung |
Dietmar Seyffert |
| Actor „Orpheus“ |
Dance-laureate Gregor Seyffert |
| Sopran |
Jörg Waschinski |
| Solo-violin/Eurydike |
Birte Päplow |
| Set design / costumes |
Pavlina Kotzeva |
| Light design |
Arndt Sellentin |
| Settings |
Thomas Stein, Alp Soysal |
| Production management |
Thomas Guggi |
| Assistance of production |
Krystyna Plachetka |
| Choreographic assistant |
Heike Keller |
Musical production / Soloists
|
Dietrich Bartsch |
| Artistic direction orchestra |
GMD Romely Pfund |
| Musik |
Composition by Kurt Weill | Text by Ivan Goll |
| Co-Realisation |
Komische Oper Berlin (D), Stadttheater Remscheid (D), Goethe-Institut Atlanta (USA), Dansens Hus Stockholm (S) |
Performance rights: Universal Edition Wien, Schott International Mainz
Production: Gregor Seyffert & Compagnie in co-operation with the Bergische Symphoniker Orchestra, the State Ballet School Berlin, the school of drama "Ernst Busch" Berlin and the school of music "Hans Eisler" Berlin.
Supported by: The fonds Darstellende Künste Foundation Germany
The deadly seven sins
Ballett Chanté, original version Soprano (1933)
Duration of performance: 45 minutes
| Inszenierung |
Dietmar Seyffert |
| Actress Anna I |
Jörg Waschinski |
| Actress Anna II |
Dancer-laureate Gregor Seyffert |
| The family |
Atrium Ensemble Berlin (Kalus-Martin Bresgott, Sebstian Lipp, Martin Schubach, Frank Schwemmer) |
| Dramaturgy |
Prof. Klaus Völker |
| Artistic co-operation |
Krystyna Plachetka |
| Set design |
Andreas Auerbach |
| Costumes |
Atif Hussein |
| Light design |
Arndt Sellentin |
| Settings |
Anrdt Sellentin, Alexander Hirche |
| Production management |
Thomas Guggi |
| Musikalische Einstudierung Solisten |
Dietrich Bartsch |
| Musical production/soloists |
Jürgen Bruns |
| Co-realisation |
Festival Düsseldorfer Altstadtherbst 2001 | Teo-Otto-Theater Remscheid / Theaterhaus Solingen |
Performance rights: Universal Edition Wien, Schott International Mainz
Production: Kurt-Weill-Fests Dessau in Co-operation with Gregor Seyffert & Compagnie, Kammersymphonie Berlin orchestra and the school of drama "Ernst Busch" Berlin
Supported by: The Ernst von Siemens Foundation, The Ostdeutschen Sparkassenstiftung Foundation, LBS Ostdeutsche Landesbausparkasse AG and the Stiftung Kulturfonds Foundation
