Prometheus Project – Holland Festival

Out of love for mankind, Prometheus defied the gods by stealing their fire and sharing it with man. For The Prometheus Project, choreographers Remi Wörtmeyer, Wubkje Kuindersma and Ernst Meisner create solos departing from different aspects of the Prometheus myth. Their creations are set to piano music by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Originally, the three choreographers were to join forces on the Beethoven ballet Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, on the occasion of the composer’s 250th birthday. Now the playing field for the performing arts has changed, so has this new creation. Now, the three choreographers will each create a solo inspired by the myth of Prometheus, set to different parts of Beethoven's 32 variations in c-minor for piano. Remi Wörtmeyer: Prometheus’s Flame In his solo for dancer Erica Horwood, Remi Wörtmeyer concentrates on the element of fire. He explores two sides of the phenomenon: fire is associated with warmth and human intimacy on the one hand, and with immense and destructive power on the other. For his new work, Wörtmeyer draws inspiration from Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, which is based on the myth of Prometheus. Wubkje Kuindersma: Prometheus For her solo, Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma departs from the inner fire that we as human beings all carry within us. This new work is created especially for Timothy van Poucke. Ernst Meisner: Eagle Prometheus was severely punished by the gods for stealing their fire. He was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle was sent to eat his liver, which would then grow back overnight to be eaten again the next day. In his solo for Sem Sjouke, Ernst Meisner departs from the perspective of the eagle.

The Russian choreographer George Balanchine once said: ‘Dance is better off leaving Beethoven alone; his music cannot be choreographed.’ Since then, a great many choreographers

have proven that although it’s not an easy task, it is certainly possible. This year, in which we are celebrating the composer’s 250th birthday, the Dutch National Ballet will dance two masterworks and a new creation to music by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Wubkje Kuindersma, Ernst Meisner and Remi Wörtmeyer

Beethoven wrote one ballet during his lifetime, Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (‘The creatures of Prometheus’), an allegorical ballet d’action composed in 1801 as a commission for Vienna’s imperial court. Although the music was a success, nothing remains of the choreography except for a brief synopsis – about Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give it to two mortals. With Beethoven, the Dutch National Ballet presents the world premiere of a new, more abstract rendering of Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, created by three rising stars of choreography: Wubkje Kuindersma, Ernst Meisner and Remi Wörtmeyer. Each will take a part of Beethoven’s ballet.

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pianist Michael Mouratch light design Bert Dalhuysen film Altin Kaftira dancer Timothy van Poucke, Erica Horwood, Sem Sjouke choreography Ernst Meisner, Wubkje Kuindersma, Remi Wörtmeyer music Ludwig van Beethoven costumes & make-up Ernst Meisner, Wubkje Kuindersma ism. Kostuumatelier Het Nationale Ballet, Kostuumatelier Het Nationale Ballet, Tatyana van Walsum, Wubkje Kuindersma

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