This is a unique meeting. It has been almost a decade since the Marseille National Ballet worked with the Opera. On stage there are 19 dancers and 28 singers. In the pit the orchestra sets the tempo. Chef Federico Tibone sets the tone and shares his impressions.
Tik-Tok choreographies
The piece “Age of content” was created by the collective (La) Horde in 2023. It is inspired by the overabundance of social networks where we put ourselves on stage. Tik-Tok choreographies where hypersexualized bodies show off. It is in this setting that the singers had to integrate. They are part of the show and the stage. “ The most complicated thing was putting the choir and the orchestra togetherwith Federico Tibone. The choir has a place on stage that we are not used to seeing at the opera. It’s harder to follow me when you’re in the middle of the show ».
On scroll
The paintings follow one another at a sustained and very effective pace. Just like on your smartphone, you scroll to move from one table to another. From a Tik-Tok choreography to a musical comedy or even jazzy tunes. The music had to be rewritten for orchestra and choir, an ensemble which requires great concentration for the conductor. The trio: musicians, singers and dancers must be perfectly in tune. Enough to break out in a cold sweat on certain scenes, confides Federico Tibone. “ You have to be at the tempo written on the score and at the tempo of the dancers. We know very well that for a dancer it can become a disaster if we change the tempo. On one or two pieces I have no room for error otherwise they can no longer dance».
A performance
The show is experienced as a performance with this unique dialogue between dancers and singers. This reunion between ballet and opera deserves to be renewed.
Report Joël BARCY
“Age of content”, from December 19 to 22 at the Marseille opera house. More info and reservations: opera.marseille.fr
