Transfigured Night
World Premiere 2021 / Auckland Town Hall
Commissioned by Chamber Music New Zealand
Created for New Zealand String Quartet
Ballet Collective Aotearoa
Choreographer Loughlan Prior
Composers Tabea Squire
Antonín Dvořák
Arnold Schoenberg
Featuring:
Laura Saxon Jones
William Fitzgerald
Tabitha Dombroski
Helene Pohl violin
Monique Lapins violin
Gillian Ansell viola
Serenity Thurlow viola
Rolf Gjelsten cello
Ken Ichinose cello
With special thanks to
Jack Hobbs, Rachel Hardie,
Turid Revfeim, Brigitte Knight,
Chamber Music New Zealand and
Creative New Zealand
Program Notes: Award-winning choreographer Loughlan Prior creates a new visceral performance work to Schoenberg’s ‘Verklärte Nacht’ – TRANSFIGURED NIGHT. Based on the mystical poem by Richard Dehmel, this chamber concert brings together the New Zealand String Quartet and the BalletCollective Aotearoa in a celebration of new life, the duality of conflict and resolution and, ultimately, reconciliation with the universe.
Coupled with Dvořák’s gorgeously Slavonic string sextet and a new commission by Kiwi composer Tabea Squire, this night of sumptuous music and dance will take you on a moving journey of courage, strength and human warmth.
Loughlan Prior embraces the challenge of bringing coherency to the programme. The eyes are invited to hear and the ears to see. - The Dominion Post
It proved a choreographic masterwork, and will position Loughlan Prior firmly on the international choreographic scene. - Michelle Potter...on dancing
Beautiful, intimate and uplifting - Theatre Review