Noblessner Foundry, Tallinn, Estonia, May 2015
According to the visionary theatre director Robert Wilson, the music of Arvo Pärt creates a mental space that allows for reflection and therefore it is important that the work stays open ended. “I construct a kind of environment or space that hopefully helps the public to hear the music better. My work is not interpretative. To me interpretation is not the responsibility of the director, the author or the performers: interpretation is for the public. This is a work we want to reflect on and continue to think about even after leaving the theatre,” says Wilson.
The musical director and conductor Tõnu Kaljuste compares Adam’s Passion to a journey characterised by the uniqueness of Pärt’s music at each performance. “The performance is a meeting of two great masters of silence. In the cooperation of them something extraordinary and almost three-dimensional is created,” says Kaljuste.
“Eesti Kontsert has four halls in Estonia and one in St Petersburg. Adam’s Passion will become our sixth, traveling concert hall,” says Jüri Leiten, director of Eesti Kontsert. Music of Arvo Pärt, one of the best-known Estonians, in combination with the theatrical language of Robert Wilson will draw the world’s attention to Estonia.
The musical core of the production consists of three main works by Arvo Pärt, selected by Pärt himself: Adam’s Lament, Tabula rasa, Miserere. “Sequentia”, a new work specially composed by Pärt, will blend the monumental landscape into a powerful story of depths and splendour of the humankind.
Tõnu Kaljuste conducts the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and the soloists. Legendary dancer and choreographer Lucinda Childs performs on stage joined by Michalis Theophanous. Over 30 Estonian actors and students of theatre and dance participated in Adam’s Passion.
Produced by Eesti Kontsert and Change Performing Arts, Milan.
Enterprise Estonia, BLRT Group, Estonian Cultural Endowment and Estonian Ministry of Culture support the production.
all photographs © Kristian Kruuser / Kaupo Kikkas
Michalis Theophanous
Lucinda Childs, Michalis Theophanous
visual research materials for Adam's Passion
preliminary costume sketches and studies for Adam's Passion
fabric swatches and colour-palette
working sketches for Adam's Passion
fitting process at Stagecraft atelier in Tallinn, Estonia