Grieg : Peer Gynt

In Peer Gynt, Zurich choreographer Heinz Spoerli has attempted a daring combination of Grieg’s score and modern sounds for a dance translation of the interior monologue of Ibsen’s hero.

Going beneath the surface of Ibsen’s narrative, Spoerli explores the emotional abyss the protagonist is plunged into. Finding that the Grieg work alone fell short of his ambitions, the choreographer turned to two contemporary composers whose music, rather than competing with Grieg’s, enriches it and gives rise to different worlds. Thus the Grieg lends itself to the ballet’s classical, narrative-style aspect, while the input from Brett Dean and Mark-Anthony Turnage provides an excellent vehicle for visual expression of Peer Gynt’s moods and his inner distress.

The production is performed by the Zurich Ballet, of which Spoerli is the director, with Peer Gynt danced by Stuttgart Ballet soloist Marijn Rademaker. The Orchestra and Choir of the Zurich Opera are conducted by Eivind Gullberg Jensen. 

The Swiss Heinz Spoerli receives the German Dance Prize 2009. In addition Marijn Rademaker, Principal Dancer of the Stuttgart Ballet, is the recipient of the German Dance Price ´Future´ 2009.