“At Porsche, we see ourselves as a partner to society. Bringing culture to the wider public is an important aspect of this. I am delighted that we are able to continue sponsoring the Stuttgart Ballet in times when going to the ballet is not actually possible,” says Andreas Haffner, Member of the Executive Board for Human Resources and Social Affairs at Porsche.
2020 was the “year of Beethoven”. The world-famous composer was born 250 years ago. Like many cultural institutions worldwide, the Stuttgart Ballet had also planned a tribute to the musical genius, but this had to be postponed due to the coronavirus crisis. The Stuttgart Ballet is now belatedly honouring Beethoven with an evening of ballet. This features works by two contemporary master choreographers, Hans van Manen and Mauro Bigonzetti.
Works by Mauro Bigonzetti and Hans van Manen
Mauro Bigonzetti is one of the most successful and famous choreographers in Italy and will be contributing a world premiere to the evening. He drew his inspiration from three piano sonatas of Beethoven. ”With Beethoven, one must learn to listen anew. The pieces I have chosen fit to the solitude many of us have been experiencing… we will all need to rediscover intimacy and these sonatas make that feeling palpable,” says Bigonzetti. Known for his distinctive, sensual and highly musical works, this is Bigonzetti’s sixth ballet for the company.
Hans van Manen’s works are known for their simple elegance, depth and an undercurrent of tension, creating a unity of movement and sound that effortlessly brings out the full power of both. Große Fuge, named after Beethoven’s music of the same name, is one of the masterpieces by the Dutch dance icon. In a dance competition of the sexes, he picks up on the incredible dynamism of Beethoven's music and explores the nuances and bubbling undercurrent of emotions. Changing between dramatic, playful and effervescent moods, van Manen’s choreography is always on a par with the music. His Adagio Hammerklavier is likewise an exquisite symbiosis of dance and music: a slow, contemplative study for three couples.
Both van Manen and Bigonzetti have a longstanding and highly prolific artistic relationship with the Stuttgart Ballet. In the context of the Beethoven ballets, they will be showcased together in one evening of ballet for the first time. Artistic Director Tamas Detrich is delighted about the live stream of the evening of ballet: “Finally we can delight a large audience with this evening dedicated to one of Germany’s most famous composers and featuring works by two choreographers so important to the Stuttgart Ballet. A big thank you goes to the choreographers as well as our main sponsor Porsche for making this possible.”
Bringing culture to the masses
The live stream of the ballet evening starts at 7 p.m. (CEST) and will be available until Monday, 5 April, 10 p.m. (CEST) as video-on-demand. The performance will be supplemented with an extensive supporting programme. There will be a virtual tour through the theatre with a look behind the scenes, an audio introduction to the ballet evening in German and English as well as a digital programme booklet.
Culture for the masses
As part of its sustainability strategy, Porsche has been sponsoring cultural projects for years with the aim of offering as many people as possible free access to culture. In addition to “Ballet in the Park” or “Ballet at the Culture Fair”, the performances presented by Porsche include the “Klassik airleben” open-air concerts by the Gewandhaus Orchestra in the Leipzig Rosental Park. The sports car manufacturer is the “Premium Partner” of Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra and the main sponsor of the Stuttgart Ballet company.
