“The more I listen to the 7, the crazier it gets. Mahler’s music releases things in my own choreography which I did not believe I had in me.”

  Martin Schläpfer

The great Bohemian-born composer Gustav Mahler once said, “A symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.” To Mahler, a symphony is not just an acoustic phenomenon, nor a structural arrangement of materials, but rather a reflection of the world. Thus, inspired by Mahler’s music, Martin Schläpfer created 7 for Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg, in which “the choreography’s imagery is vividly shaped by the colors and rhythms of the score.”

Schläpfer choreographed the entire symphony, transforming the stage into an epitome of the world. One can paraphrase Mahler’s words here, “A dance must be like the world. It must embrace everything.” Indeed, male and female dancers wear boots, pointed shoes, ballet slippers or go barefoot, and, accompanied by this richly textured symphony, present the difficulties of life. Mahler’s Symphony No.7 is performed by the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra conducted by CHIEN Wen-pin, executive and artistic director of National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), providing the opportunity for audiences to enjoy the combination of modern dance and live music.

Martin Schläpfer, Choreographer

Martin Schläpfer received ballet training from Marianne Fuchs in St. Gallen (Switzerland) and at the Royal Ballet School in London. He then joined the Basel Ballet and became one of its most charismatic soloists, as well as began teaching and choreographing. From 1999, under his leadership, Ballettmainz advanced to the upper ranks of German companies. Then, in 2010, he became artistic director and principal choreographer of Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg. In 2011, he was named Choreographer of the Year by German dance magazine Tanz.

To date, Schläpfer has created more than 60 dance productions, refining his individual contemporary ballet esthetic. He is regarded as one the most innovative and successful choreographers and ballet directors. He has been invited to develop works for prestigious dance companies such as the Bavarian State Ballet. Schläpfer is a recipient of the German Der Faust and Swiss Dance Awards. In 2020, he is expected to take up the post of director of Wiener Staatsballet.
 

CHIEN Wen-pin, Conductor

CHIEN Wen-pin is the executive and artistic director of the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying). He received an undergraduate degree from the National Taiwan Academy of Arts and a Master’s degree from the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna. In 1996, he began his 22-year career as Kapellmeister of Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Düsseldorf Duisburg, Germany). From 1998 to 2004, he was resident conductor of the Pacific Music Festival (Sapporo, Japan). From 2001 to 2007, while CHIEN was its music director, the National Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan Philharmonic) created its Subscription Concert Series, commissioned Taiwanese composers, introduced an opera series and completed the first production of Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner in the Chinese-speaking world for its 20th anniversary in 2006. From 2014 to 2016, CHIEN served as artistic advisor to the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, he was honored with the National Award for Arts.

Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg

Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg, re-formed in 2009, is considered one of Germany’s most successful and innovative ballet companies. In a poll conducted by German dance magazine Tanz of international critics, it was named Best Company four times, in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017. It is comprised of 43 dancers from 16 countries. In addition to interpreting the works of its artistic director and principal choreographer, Martin Schläpfer, this company performs classical ballets and contemporary works on numerous international stages and at countless arts festivals.

National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1945, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra(NTSO) is the oldest symphony orchestra in Taiwan. Located in Wufeng, Taichung, NTSO is a comprehensive music group with well-organized software and hardware.

Over 70 years of history, under the accumulated establishment of directors of past terms and the promotion of the current director LIU Suan-yung, NTSO has had rich performing experience. Countless international teams and musicians have been invited to perform with the Orchestra.

Under the leadership of the former Artistic Advisor SHUI Lan and CHIEN Wen-pin. NTSO has learned from tradition and connected with the trends of the new age, expecting itself to promote the musical life of the general public and achieve the goal of social harmony.

Choreographer / Martin Schläpfer

Conductor / CHIEN Wen-pin  

Music / Symphony No. 7 in E minor by Gustav Mahler

Set and Costumes Design / Florian Etti

Lighting Design / Volker Weinhart

Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg

National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra

Presented by National Taichung Theater

Co-presented by National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)