MATER
Description
Commissioned by the Festival Medieval d’Elx, the inspiration of this work comes from the text "Lo passi en cobles" written by Bernat Fenollar, one of the most important authors of the 15th century in terms of Valencian literature and culture. Mater is a choreographic adaptation of the Passion of Christ that springs from the distressed look of the mother. The sacrifice of her son, the grieving submission of her most sacred part is the atonement of other evils and sins.
The expression of this major suffering, the dramatization of this loss, is increased by means of dance, one of the most symbolic and emotional arts, which is at the same time closely linked to the religious and sacred.
In this way, Mater offers the audience an intimate story of this Passion, showing the liturgy of bodies devoted to the atonement ceremonies and offerings. Mary gazes at her son, she finds him lying completely still. She holds out her white hand and caresses him full of grief. Jesus understands that the man he is will no longer be. The music evokes a journey of the religious and mystic of the Mediterranean culture; sometimes this is heart moving, sometimes rhythmical, sometimes vocal as if a stroke hit the spirit… The different music interweaves to compose a landscape that is the extension of the love and pain of the characters. Juanjo Llorens is in charge of the lightning, which gives the scenery the needed intensity for each feeling of the soul. The costumes by La Cantante Calva provide the audience a series of scenes of Palestine and allegorical paintings referred to the topic of the Passion of the European Middle Ages. As for the set, designed by Luis Crespo, it represents Mater as an altarpiece or retable. Long strips of cloth create a cathedral-like aspect. A central window changes throughout the work, empathizing with the evolution of the characters.