The Köln Concert
Trajal Harrell & Zürich Dance Ensemble
In ‘The Köln Concert,’ choreographer Trajal Harrell combines one of the most famous solo piano recordings of all time, American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1975 ‘Köln Concert,’ with songs by Canadian musician Joni Mitchell. Both artists are icons of music history who have influenced not only Harrell’s own artistic practice, but entire generations with their music. Joni Mitchell’s music opens the evening and sets the stage for Keith Jarrett’s music and for the seven dancers of the Zurich Dance Ensemble, who, influenced by various dance traditions and styles, surrender to the intimate and vulnerable moment of encounter.
Trajal Harrell’s ‘The Köln Concert’ is a reminder of the need to remain close to one another no matter what, to have respect for one another, and to never forget that there are many stories that are rarely heard or seen, stories of people who are pushed into the shadows. This evening belongs to them.
Duration: ca. 50 Min.
Without language
Audio Description
Saturday 23. August ‘The Köln Concert’ will be shown with a live audio description in german. There is also the possibility of taking part in a tactical guided tour at 7pm, one hour before the performance starts.
Please let us know in advance if you would like to take part in the audio description and tactile guided tour.
Please contact Jule Fuchs via E-Mail: barrierefrei@hellerau.org or via telephone: 0351 264 62 37.
American choreographer and dancer Trajal Harrell, who studied at Yale University, the Centre national de la danse (Yvonne Rainer) and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, became known worldwide for his series of works ‘Twenty Looks’ or ‘Paris is Burning’ at the Judson Church. For more than 20 years, he has been creating pieces for international dance and theatre companies as well as museums and art galleries. The unique style of Trajal Harrell’s work stems not only from the unusual combination of seemingly disparate dance styles such as voguing, early postmodern dance, butoh, and elements of fashion, music, and pop culture, but above all from the fragility and humour that pervade all his works. At the centre of his work is the body, which he understands as a carrier of memory, past and historical figures. He critically examines dance history and reinterprets historical material in order to reveal the multi-layered levels of contemporary dance history. Aesthetically, his pieces are always tributes to the people on stage. He dresses them in selected fabrics and draws important inspiration from developments in haute couture (some of which he also brings directly to the stage). From 2019 to July 2024, Trajal Harrell successfully led his dance company at the Schauspielhaus Zürich. After the end of Nicolas Stemann and Benjamin von Blomberg’s tenure as artistic directors, Trajal Harrell decided to stay in Zurich and found the Zurich Dance Ensemble. This is the first time in Harrell’s international career that he and his company have tied themselves to a city. In 2024, Trajal Harrell was awarded the Silver Lion at the Biennale Danza in Venice.
Direction, choreography, stage design, soundtrack, costumes: Trajal Harrell
Music: Keith Jarrett, Joni Mitchell
Performance: Vânia Doutel, Vaz, Perle Palombe, Trajal Harrell, Rob Fordeyn, Stephen Thompson, Songhay Toldon, Ondrej Vidlar
Lighting: Sylvain Rausa
Dramaturgy: Katinka Deecke
Audience Development: Mathis Neuhaus
Theater Pedagogy: Manuela Runge
Production assistants: Camille Roduit, Maja Renn
Set design assistants: Ann-Kathrin Bernstetter, Natascha Leonie Simons
Costume assistants: Ulf Brauner, Miriam Schliehe
Stage management: Michael Durrer
Production intern: Moritz Lienhard
Set design intern: Reina Guyer
Technical Equipment: Ruedi Schuler
Lighting: Markus Keusch, Carsten Schmidt
Sound: Paul Hug, Fabian Kubelik
Make-up: Alexandra Scherrer
Wardrobe: Franziska Drossaart, Tiziana Ramsauer
Props: Anna Harff
Touring Technicians: Petra Kenneth, Ulrich Kellermann, Stephan Wöhrmann
Tour Management and International Relations: Björn Pätz, ART HAPPENS
Funded as part of the Alliance of International Production Houses by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
