衛武營國家藝術文化中心 National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

A genuine Mahler and yet a different one from the one I know seemed to stand before me in this music. Sometimes the sound seems to be coming from a fairy tale a long way off, for example in the fourth movement – and then it's entirely present again but without telling us “This is how we compose now!” This spirit of freedom is something very special. When you work with a piece of music as a choreographer, that is a chance to dig deep down inside it and ultimately to really experience what kind of artist someone was, how independently he worked and how unique he is. The more I listen to the Seventh, the crazier it gets. Mahler's music releases things in my own choreography which I did not believe I had in me.—Martin SCHLÄPFER about his ballet "7"

Dancers in heavy boots and dark overcoats arrive after a long journey in a world which might become their new home. In a trio between two men and one woman their energies are intensified and discharged in a striking scene between intimacy and parting. Music and dance combine in a psychological portrait of obsessed individuals. In Martin SCHLÄPFER's ballet the world becomes a stage on which the challenges of life are literally embodied – both with seriousness and with humour. The rejections and the cracks remain intact and are not covered up. Wandering towards the fixed destination of home is no longer placed in opposition to the experience of vagrancy but finds itself within it.

Choreographer｜Martin SCHLÄPFER

Winner of numerous prestigious awards,Martin SCHLÄPFER is currently regarded as one of the most innovative and successful choreographers and ballet directors. In over 70 works he has been able to distil his own choreographic style into an entirely individual contemporary ballet aesthetics.

He was appointed Director of the Bern Ballet and Head of Ballett Mainz. From the 2009/10 season he has been Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer of Ballett am Rhein. In 2010 Tanz Magazine's poll of international critics has named Martin SCHLÄPFER “Choreographer of the Year”.

Conductor｜CHIEN Wen-pin

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

The Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg is regarded as one of Germany's most successful and innovative ballet companies. Die Deutsche Bühne had already given the company the first place in 2010, and Tanz Magazine’s poll of international critics has named Martin SCHLÄPFER “Choreographer of the Year 2010” and the Ballett am Rhein “Company of the Yea” four years in a row in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017. Since the 2016/17 season, Ballet Director Remus Şucheană has been managing the company alongside Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Martin SCHLÄPFER. The company can be seen not only on the Deutsche Oper am Rhein’s two stages at Opernhaus Düsseldorf and Theater Duisburg, but also in international touring and festival appearances.

Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO)

The TSO is no stranger to international stages. The abundant performances in Europe, the States and Asia have marked it as the Taiwanese orchestra that performs most frequently in foreign countries. In 2018, under the leadership of Director Kang Kuo HO, the TSO has rebooted Taipei Music Festival with the spirit of “Taipei Renascence”, in order to promote cross-fields innovative collaboration. Through this spirit, the TSO hopes to create an epic chapter for the orchestra in the next 50 years!    

Creative and Production Team

Music｜ Symphony No. 7 in E minor by Gustav MAHLER
Choreography｜ Martin SCHLÄPFER
Conductor｜ CHIEN Wen-pin
Set & Costume Design｜ Florian ETTI
Lighting Design｜Volker WEINHART
Performer｜ Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg
Orchestra｜Taipei Symphony Orchestra( TSO)

Photo by Gert Weigelt

Presented by National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying）

Co-presented by National Taichung Theater、Taipei Symphony Orchestra

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