Despite suffering from hearing problems, Beethoven had his ear to the ground with his Seventh Symphony: in this work of extremes, his fellow human beings enthusiastically heard the ecstasy of joy of a nation liberated from Napoleon as well as questions about society yesterday and tomorrow. Sasha Waltz's »Beethoven 7« also shows that turbulent times promote moving artistic responses.

Back in June 2021, the choreographer presented two movements of the symphony as part of the ARTE cultural channel's Beethoven Day. The music has stayed with her ever since. The result is the production »Beethoven 7«, which translates far more than the complete symphony into dance. A breathtaking space of electronic sounds opens the two-part evening. In Diego Noguera's »Freiheit/Extasis«, the company translates Beethoven's questions about personal freedom and the future into the present. In contrast to this, the dance interpretation of the Seventh traces the impulses of the classical master in a light-footed and rhythmic manner and devotes itself entirely to the enthusiasm for utopias of the future.

This event is part of the dance subscription and is available together with »Akram Khan Junglebook« at a discounted ticket price.

Please notice that the first part of »Beethoven 7« has an increased noise level and bass tones in a low-frequency range, eventually leading to physically noticeable vibrations. You can get hearing protection in the foyer.

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Image © Sebastian Bolesch