adónde vas, Siguiriya? - Capricho Flamenco
"Among black butterflies / Goes a dark-haired girl / Next to a white serpent / Of mist. / Earth of light, / Sky of earth.... / Where are you going, Siguiriya," Federico García Lorca asks the girl in his poem "El Paso de la Siguiriya". She is named after the song that is the soul of the flamenco and forms part of the archaically profound and expressive Cante Jondo. "The Cante Jondo always sings at night, it does not know the morning, the evening, the mountains, the plains. All it knows is the night, a vast night covered with layers and layers of stars," Lorca writes. "In the siguiriya, the ultimate poem of tears, the melody cries, just like the stanzas cry. " In its early days, the siguiriya was sung only, but today it is danced as well. With its explosive power, full of rage and profound sadness, intolerantly and unforgivingly linked to the most trying events of the human existence, it remains a challenge for every dancer.
"Flamencos en route offers the absolute best in flamenco", Neue Zürcher Zeitung writes. The renowned dance company is composed of outstanding Spanish and international dancers and musicians. In 2014, the company celebrates its 30th anniversary with a comprehensive program performed in many locations all over Europe. In the early years, Brigitta Luisa Merki, the founder and choreographer of the ensemble, had been able to win over her own Master Flamenco Teacher, Susana, the legendary dancer and choreographer, as artistic director for the ensemble. Nevertheless, it is to Merki's credit that she has been able to combine the flamenco with various types of art and schools of thought since 1984, and every time she explores new territory. She currently collaborates for the first time with the Ballett am Rhein (Ballet on the Rhine). In ".... adónde vas, Siguiriya?" Flamencos en route dancers and musicians will encounter dancers from Martin Schläpfer's ballet company and look for new artistic dialogues and powerful poetic sound patterns.
"His images of the Siguiriya could not do a better job capturing the essence of flamenco, i.e. the atmospheric and magical aura of this complex form of art," Brigitta Luisa Merki writes about Lorca's poem, which serves as point of departure for Merki's current dance poem. The latter is a capriccio performed by two very different artistic ensembles trying to transcend their limitations while expressing the "spiritedness of an idea, a whim; boundless imagination; the dark side as well as the bright side. The new production plays with the forms and colors of the flamenco, which keeps assimilating new and unfamiliar elements without ever allowing itself to be assimilated."

Video

Rundschau

original in German

Friderike Saiger, Rundschau, 05.11.2015

CREDO, LGT Journal für Vermögenskultur, Carte Blanche

Article as PDF

Lilo Weber, CREDO, LGT Journal für Vermögenskultur, Carte Blanche, 01.10.2015

Tanz - Zeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance

original in German

Lilo Weber, Tanz - Zeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance, 24.08.2015

Regional Brugg

only available in German

Ernst Rothenbach, Regional Brugg, 09.07.2015

Albidanza

only available in Spanish

Mercedes Albi, Albidanza, 25.06.2015

Aargauer Zeitung, Kultur

only available in German

Elisabeth Feller, Aargauer Zeitung, Kultur, 04.05.2015

tanznetz.de

only available in German

Marieluise Jeitschko, tanznetz.de, 27.03.2015

Die Welt, Feuilleton

only available in German

Manuel Brug, Die Welt, Feuilleton, 23.03.2015

Theaterkompass

only available in German

Dagmar Kurtz, Theaterkompass, 22.03.2015

Neue Zürcher Zeitung

only available in German

Lilo Weber, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 20.03.2015

Westfälischer Anzeiger, Kultur

only available in German

Pedro Obiera, Westfälischer Anzeiger, Kultur, 20.03.2015

Stuttgarter Nachrichten

only available in German

Brigitte Jähnigen, Stuttgarter Nachrichten, 19.03.2015

Frankfurter Allgemeine

(...) Mozart, Flamenco and Brahms: With its range of choreographies by Schläpfer, Merki and Ek, the new b.23 (Ballet evening no. 23) at the Düsseldorf Opera runs the gamut from the symphonic to the folkloristic.
(...) The flamenco wins because it no longer relies exclusively on drama and flamboyant gestures. Men lifting the women in the duets or having them spin across the stage allows for more variety in the emotional expression of the performers. (...)

Alexandra Albrecht, Frankfurter Allgemeine, 19.03.2015

Rheinische Post

only available in German

Dorothee Krings, Rheinische Post, 16.03.2015

WAZ/NRZ, Kultur und Freizeit

only available in German

Michael-Georg Müller, WAZ/NRZ, Kultur und Freizeit, 16.03.2015

Westdeutsche Zeitung

only available in German

Lars Wallerang, Westdeutsche Zeitung, 16.03.2015

Online Musik Magazin

Three performances that make the audience marvel: The 23rd ballet evening designed by Schläpfer for the Düsseldorf and Duisburg Operas has turned out to be the most comical, most astounding, and most weightless one yet.
(...) Siguiriya, a young girl, brilliantly danced by Schläpfer's prima ballerina, Marlúcia do Amaral, throws herself into the arms of the vastly different flamenco, masterfully danced itself by the dance company Flamencos en route. Great tension develops from the different dance styles: the very demanding flamenco foot work with its small steps and the big ballet leaps performed around the circular stage by Amaral, the "classical" dancer.
(...) There is something different about it, extremely virtuosic, but never folkloric.

Stefan Schmöe, Online Musik Magazin, 15.03.2015

Niederrhein Nachrichten

(...) What Choreographer Brigitta Luisa Merki and her dance company "Flamencos en route," the dancers of the Ballett am Rhein and the "Flamencos en route" musical ensemble manage to produce on stage is a kind of Big Bang in slow motion: Everything becomes a stroke of genius. "Adónde vas, Siguiriya?" Capricho Flamenco is more than the separating piece between Mozart and Brahms. Merki and her ensemble explain the world from a unique point of view: in a breath-taking mixture of elemental force and intimacy, staged in an arena of light. Long before the last sounds fade away it becomes clear that Merki's excursion into the world does not represent the separating piece between Mozart and Brahms, but, rather, the connecting piece. Merki's ensemble offers the most precious gift art has to give: a representation of the present. The evening gains momentum. The audience perceives the world through the windows of a superfast train; the faster the audience breathes, the clearer the images become - until the sudden end of the journey makes the images disappear into nothing. The piece offers no final tableau with the complete ensemble on stage. Instead, it ends like grandmother's good-night kiss. And all the fear is gone. One could now calmly walk into the night.... (...)

Heiner Frost, Niederrhein Nachrichten, 15.03.2015

Deutschlandfunk, Kultur Heute

(...) The second premiere of the evening was a production by Swiss Choreographer Brigitta Luisa Merki, in which she had her own flamenco ensemble - phenomenal musicians and dancers - collaborate with members of the Ballett am Rhein. With this combination she can stage her own unique encounters between different dance cultures, i.e. the traditional flamenco and contemporary dance. At any time, she can separate the mixed performance into its two idioms again and have individual dancers dance in their style. This flexibility, together with the fact that the musicians sit on the stage behind the dancers, makes her production very straightforward and gives it a surprisingly genuine effect. For, every performer in her production only does what s/he can do convincingly and authentically. (...)

Wiebke Hüster, Deutschlandfunk, Kultur Heute, 15.03.2015

WDR, Lokalzeit aus Düsseldorf

Ballet meets Flamenco
Television report WDR (only available in German ) about the new piece from Brigitta Luisa Merki. Flamencos en route together with dancers from the opera house in Düsseldorf. Premiere: Saturday 14th of March 2015

Daniela Partenzi, WDR, Lokalzeit aus Düsseldorf, 11.03.2015

anda! Zeitschrift für Flamenco

original in German
Flamencos en route - 30 Years en Route
In 1984, Brigitta Luisa Merki, a former master class student of the legendary Bernese flamenco dancer Susana, mustered all her courage and founded the dance company Flamencos en route. At the time, Brigitta probably had no idea that the company would last 30 years and explore the art of the flamenco in ever greater depth. Today, Flamencos en route's productions regularly bring audiences to their feet in sold-out concert halls both in Switzerland and abroad.
(...) Merki's 30 Flamencos en route productions prove that, even as early as 30 years ago, her artistry was far ahead of its time. Merki has expanded the flamenco, be it by using instruments from classical or world music for instance or by modernizing the dance and venturing into the abstract, only to return to pure flamenco before too long. It is this balance between the different art forms and Merki's ability to let her imagination run free that make this dance company so attractive. (...)
(...) The time before and after the anniversary tour was no different. Whether in Switzerland or Germany, her productions show her enormous artistic intuition, her experience, and her skill and knowledge when working with other first-rate artists. The dance company touches and moves the audience in an integral way, absolutely delightfully. And as soon as a performance ends, Merki presents a new production. Where does this woman find her inexhaustible energy? (...)
(...) What this artist does for the flamenco is remarkable and commendable and will enter into the annals of flamenco history. It is as if the choreographer drew her energy directly from the essence of this great art. (...)

Sonja L. Bauer, anda! Zeitschrift für Flamenco, 01.03.2015

Tages-Anzeiger, Kultur & Gesellschaft

original in German

Nina Scheu, Tages-Anzeiger, Kultur & Gesellschaft, 03.12.2014

Tanz - Zeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance

original in German
(...) The level-headed Swiss artist develops her multi-layered productions from the material at hand. The opening to so-called "contaminations" from every angle, which have occurred in classical ballet productions for a century are relatively new to flamenco. In the flamenco, these outside influences have only been applied for a few decades and thus still excite the audiences.
(...) Eloquent in her own vocabulary and far beyond, the choreographer introduces foreign movements into the highly stylized code of the flamenco as an unsettling contrast, a recognizable quotation, or - often done very organically - as the only natural form of movement at the moment.
(...) Here as well, Brigitta Luisa Merki ranks among the masters of her craft, choreography: She only works with strong-willed personalities. Each one of her outstanding dancers and musicians contributes his or her own different, individual nuances to her creations.
"... y que más!" is the motto of her anniversary season: "what other than flamenco!".
(...) It is probably the only way to stage three complete and very diverse productions in a six-month period, in addition to producing a piece for Martin Schläpfer's Ballet am Rhein in March 2015. Merki shares her compatriot's love for pushing the limits beyond the originally acquired dance language and for experimenting with different types of shoes; in her productions, bare feet perform next to pointe shoes and loudly clacking flamenco heels. Schläpfer insisted on having her bring her own dancers and musicians. "He made it very clear: Come with your people. It will feel as if we had been taken onto an island, no doubt very exciting."
(...) The curiosity is mutual. (...)

Angela Reinhardt, Tanz - Zeitschrift für Ballett, Tanz und Performance, 27.11.2014

Magazin des Balletts am Rhein

only available in German
You can order the magazin here

Anne do Paço, Magazin des Balletts am Rhein, 17.11.2014

Kultur-Tipp

original in German

Maya Künzler, Kultur-Tipp, 15.10.2014

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zürcher Kultur

original in German
(...) "Peregrina" means female pilgrim. However, "peregrino" can also mean "something strange or extraordinary."
All these meanings apply precisely to Flamencos en route. Ever since Brigitta Luisa Merki founded the company in 1984, it has been exactly as its name suggests: en route. And it has never ceased to surprise us with extraordinary creations. In "perlas peregrinas" the choreographer reverts to pearls from her previous work as well as to pearls from Spanish culture. She revives characters like Don Juan, Don Quixote, or Sancho Panza. Originally, these were themes preferred by Susana, Merki's former teacher and first artistic director of the company.
(...) In 1994, Brigitta Luisa Merki became director of the company and continued exploring the relationship between contemporary and Spanish dance as well as the connections between flamenco and the visual arts and various musical styles.
(...) Merki has long grown beyond everything that is conventional. In 2004, Brigitta Luisa Merki was awarded the Hans-Reinhart ring for her innovative work, and in 1999, she was honored with the Cultural Award of the AZ Media Group.

Lilo Weber, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zürcher Kultur, 11.10.2014

Schweizer Illustrierte

original in German

Anina Rether, Schweizer Illustrierte, 29.09.2014

SRF 2 Kultur, Kultur kompakt

30 years Flamencos en route, report from Maya Künzler (in German)

Maya Künzler, SRF 2 Kultur, Kultur kompakt, 23.09.2014

SRF 1 und SRF 1 Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn

SRF 1 Regionaljournal
30 Years Flamencos en route, Interview with Brigitta Luisa Merki (in German)

Andrea Affolter, SRF 1 und SRF 1 Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn, 22.09.2014

Kanal K

30 years Dance Company Flamencos en route, Interview with Brigitta Luisa Merki (in German)

Anita Huber, Kanal K, 21.09.2014

Aargauer Zeitung, Nordwestschweiz, Kultur

original in German

Elisabeth Feller, Aargauer Zeitung, Nordwestschweiz, Kultur, 18.09.2014

Zeitschrift Brigitte

original in German

Zeitschrift Brigitte, 10.09.2014

moving emotions

original in German

moving emotions, 01.09.2014