MYTHOLOGIA | Review
August 22nd 2000 01:04
Carl Vine provided the score and collaborated with choreographer Greame Murphy to create -
MYTHOLOGIA
Drawing on words from Sappho, Homeric Hymns, Sophocles, Homer and various others this
dynamic duo have created a ballet that brings many familiar images into light. The costumes
(Richard de Chazal) are sublime. Nakedness and body tone used to the fullest, glittering fabrics, winged Eros, flying Eagle (Zeus), Dominatrix cracking a whip. This is a supreme achievement for Sydney Dance Company there can be no question.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir sing in white robes, an ever watching Greek Chorus building great emotional charges with a rumbling anthem early on:
Best is water; but there is another - gold
gold outshines by far any lordly wealth,
like a fire blazing in the night.
But my dear heart, if you long to celebrate
contests, never seek another star burning more
radiantly by day through the
bright upper air than the sun,
nor ever let us sing of any
contest greater than
the Olympic games.
[the Olympics!]
Pindar, Olympians 1 (1-7)
We follow the main plot of Heracles a great fellow of physical prowess who proclaims the first Olympic games with a stunning dance between half a dozen men whose precision and grace turns wrestling into a stupendous celebration of the body.
Zeus up to his usual tricks becomes a mighty flying eagle, a stunning scene as he carries the beautiful Ganymede away. Truly wonderful. Murphy and Vine have really combined some of the most exciting sounds and images you would want to tackle for an occasion such as this and made their remarkable marks on them... with them.
Thunderous applause was pelted upon the dancers and choir all through the event; for good reason. This is definitely hot stuff. A stupendous finale as Heracles heads for immortality
after his true love, the graceful and manly Hylas is lost forever. The choir sing the story of Heracles finding Hylas:
But even Amphitryon's son, the bronze
hearted one who confronted the savage
lion, fell passionately in love with a boy, the
beautiful Hylas, whose locks were yet
uncut. He was to the boy as a father to a
dear son, and used to teach him
everything, all that he himself had learned
on his path to valour and fair repute. He
was never apart from him ...
All in all a triumph! A wonderful flame in the Festival as a jewel to a crown. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
REVIEW by David Paul Jobling
MYTHOLOGIA
Drawing on words from Sappho, Homeric Hymns, Sophocles, Homer and various others this
dynamic duo have created a ballet that brings many familiar images into light. The costumes
(Richard de Chazal) are sublime. Nakedness and body tone used to the fullest, glittering fabrics, winged Eros, flying Eagle (Zeus), Dominatrix cracking a whip. This is a supreme achievement for Sydney Dance Company there can be no question.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir sing in white robes, an ever watching Greek Chorus building great emotional charges with a rumbling anthem early on:
Best is water; but there is another - gold
gold outshines by far any lordly wealth,
like a fire blazing in the night.
But my dear heart, if you long to celebrate
contests, never seek another star burning more
radiantly by day through the
bright upper air than the sun,
nor ever let us sing of any
contest greater than
the Olympic games.
[the Olympics!]
Pindar, Olympians 1 (1-7)
We follow the main plot of Heracles a great fellow of physical prowess who proclaims the first Olympic games with a stunning dance between half a dozen men whose precision and grace turns wrestling into a stupendous celebration of the body.
Zeus up to his usual tricks becomes a mighty flying eagle, a stunning scene as he carries the beautiful Ganymede away. Truly wonderful. Murphy and Vine have really combined some of the most exciting sounds and images you would want to tackle for an occasion such as this and made their remarkable marks on them... with them.
Thunderous applause was pelted upon the dancers and choir all through the event; for good reason. This is definitely hot stuff. A stupendous finale as Heracles heads for immortality
after his true love, the graceful and manly Hylas is lost forever. The choir sing the story of Heracles finding Hylas:
But even Amphitryon's son, the bronze
hearted one who confronted the savage
lion, fell passionately in love with a boy, the
beautiful Hylas, whose locks were yet
uncut. He was to the boy as a father to a
dear son, and used to teach him
everything, all that he himself had learned
on his path to valour and fair repute. He
was never apart from him ...
All in all a triumph! A wonderful flame in the Festival as a jewel to a crown. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
REVIEW by David Paul Jobling
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