Ensemble Modern in Israel

 

Musical theatre production “Schwarz auf Weiß” (Black on white): The celebrated orchestra for contemporary music makes its first guest appearance in Israel.

 

Expanding the still vibrant kibbutz idea into an aesthetic theatrical and musical experience – why not? You could also say: the everlasting appeal of flat hierarchies and a love of improvisation. When on 21 and 24 June Ensemble Modern makes its first guest appearances in Israel to perform the Jerusalem premiere of Heiner Goebbels’ musical theatre production “Schwarz auf Weiß”, 18 soloists from nine nations will visit the eastern Mediterranean. But that is by no means all. The ensemble, formed in 1980 and based in Frankfurt/Main, which does without an artistic director on principle and is democratically organized, also stands for a concept based on debate and fusion that could not be any more sensual or specific. Indeed, the artists are both actors and musicians, bounce tennis balls onto an enormous drum, entice enchanting whistling melodies from a kettle or form a small ensemble of wind instruments reminiscent of an Italian banda. At the same time a confident individuality emerges beneath the amazing lighting of set designer Jean Kalman: Helmut Lachenmann (along with György Ligeti and the two Israelis Yuval Shaked and Dan Yuhas one of the composers whose work is performed) also takes the role of narrator. He is accompanied by a hornist and the taped voice of Heiner Müller reading a parable by Edgar Allan Poe.

 

Yet there is nothing dark, ponderous or “Teutonic” about this constellation; it is more like a charming chat about the ambivalences and unimagined possibilities that art offers. It is no coincidence that one of the past projects of this award-winning, globally celebrated ensemble was called “Happy new ears” – an invitation to open yourself up to new perspectives, both acoustically and visually. Dance theatre meets chamber music, may the subversive charm of the heterogeneous unfold! So it is hardly surprising that the creative ensemble members reinterpret some 70(!) works every year and in the course of 40 years have not only worked with famous classical composers such as Hans Werner Henze, Mauricio Kagel and Karlheinz Stockhausen, but also attracted Rock stars like Frank Zappa. “Schwarz auf Weiß” is not only about withstanding contrasts and polyphones, but also searching for them with relish and presenting them on stage – if you will it is an almost Israeli manner of remixing what is available and discussing it with gusto. A fascinating encounter awaits the audience in Jerusalem.    

    

21 June and 24 June 2015, 9 p.m.: The Jerusalem Theatre, Jerusalem