FRANKFURT'S NEW PRESS
Tumultuous applause and ovations for Ben van Cauwenberghs new ballet "Irish Soul" in the State Theatre in Wiesbaden. The idea for this production, a similar success to van Cauwenberghs work "Rock around Baroque", came during a sailing holiday around the rugged cliffs and ports of the "green island". Music, Country and People fascinated him.
The virtuosity of the soloists and the ensemble is amazing, with their power and intensity, often haunting and always noticeable. A deep insight to emotions, rain and marine sounds set the scenery for the appearance of the Leprechaun, a figure of Irish mythology. Gaetano Posterino appears again and again, dances the part of the Cobalt with unbelievable smoothness, and with some bizarre deviousness. After this introduction the ballet troupe mixes with the musicians in the orchestra pit.
Van Cauwenbergh hit the atmosphere of an Irish pub on the head. Individually and collectively, the dancers take to the stage, shine with impressive solo performances, Irish styles and gestures, slightly paradoxical footwork, with the usual precision. In a mainly male dominated scene, very colourful, (Marcin Krajewski, Breno Bittencourt Court, Dmitri Simkin and Marek Tuma) dance in the "local" in high spirited form, but then have to face the equally strong Women (Irena Veterova, Adeline Pastor, Carolina Vivet, Isabelle Moirt and Daniela Severian). See it if you can or miss one of this years best productions, from start to finish a pleasure.
