Words by Artistic Director- 2025 NTT Arts NOVA

 

Between I and We

A short while ago, Wynton Marsalis led the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to Taiwan. As the concert began in tribute to Duke Ellington's 125th birthday, the first note of the trumpet pierced the air. It was as if it had traveled through time, emerging from an analog radio of the 1930s or 1940s—familiar, pure, and primal. Yet, as the rhythm of the drums joined in, especially during the improvised sections, the tones and melodies eloquently reflected the language of our times. A composition nearly a century old danced gracefully between the echoes of history and the pulse of the present, filling me with both wonder and excitement.

Duke Ellington didn't call it jazz. He called his music "American Music," and liked to describe those who impressed him as "beyond category." In this spirit, I wish to introduce the 2025 NTT Arts NOVA series with Blur, the latest transnational collaboration by Riverbed Theatre. Intriguingly, the title Blur evokes an exploration of the shifting boundaries where humanity, propelled by advancements in cloning and genetic engineering, navigates the indistinct space between technology and morality—a liminal realm where the concept of “bringing the dead back to life" becomes an unsettling possibility.

When death isn't clear-cut, ghosts emerge! Deep Lake Man draws its inspiration from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, telling the story of a fisherman who forges an unlikely friendship with a ghost in the lake. Straddling the realms of music and theater, the performance invites the audience to close their eyes, silencing all senses except hearing. Through the actors' vocal artistry and a cinema-grade sound system, it delivers a wholly immersive auditory experience, unveiling the pure essence of the storytelling concert.

Another ghost story unfolds between a man and a woman. Giselle, a masterwork of the Romantic ballet era, weaves a tale of innocence and betrayal—a story that has been continuously reinvented since its premiere in 1841. Akram Khan infuses this classical ballet with a striking contemporary perspective, as the English National Ballet dances into the oppressive world of a factory. Amid stark class divides, love teeters on the edge, culminating in the chilling moment when vengeance transcends death.

In Quebec, there's another creative hub: Ex Machina ╳ FLIP Fabrique. Robert Lepage once remarked that his Le Diamant Theatre hosts not only operas and circus performances but even wrestling—an art form brimming with "drama." SLAM! will blur the boundaries between reality and illusion, delivering an adrenaline-pumping spectacle like no other.

Ukiyo-e, the iconic art style born from the rapid economic growth of Japan's Edo period, vividly captured the hedonistic lifestyle. New Century of Ukiyo-e takes this art genre to new heights, reimagining it for the industrial and AI age. Renowned for their self-made mechanical instruments, Maywa Denki captivates audiences with their humor-infused, human-machine integrated live performances. This time, they merge elements of traditional Japanese ceremonials with the cyberpunk aesthetic, pushing the boundaries of music between the tactile charm of the past and the digital promise of the future.

In a time when dreams have faded and passive resignation prevails, can we still recall the knight who once battled towering windmills 400 years ago? Day-Night Reversal Don Quijote is a game destined for a tragic end, where actors guide the audience through shifts between reality and imagination, evoking the fiery passion of those who dream of heroism and adventure. Bulareyaung Dance Company’s tiaen tiamen Episode 2 embarks on the second stage of the Paiwan life journey, exploring the connection between "I" and "we" with the wisdom of the mind.

Improvisation is the soul of jazz. A single drummer on stage can unleash boundless creativity—but what would happen with nine drummers and nine drum kits? Stephanie Lake Company's Manifesto imagines these nine drummers perched atop Mount Olympus, while nine dancers below respond to the rhythms, moving from subtle gestures to a thunderous, deafening celebration. Between order and chaos, they discover their own bodies, ultimately achieving seamless harmony.

Between you and the theater, ten doors await—what story will you step into?
 

—Joyce Chiou, General and Artistic Director