"In Lang's choreography, less is more, and movement evolved naturally out of relationships." —The Boston Globe
A superstar on the rise, Jessica Lang, formerly a member of Twyla Tharp's company, has created one of the most extraordinary experiences an opera-goer or dance lover is likely to see. Her production of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s 1736 Stabat Mater(There Stands the Mother) springs from a 13th-century Latin poem. Sung here by countertenor and soprano this work expresses the words of an observer of the Virgin Mary’s suffering and grief at the crucifixion of Jesus. Hauntingly beautiful, the staging becomes a constantly shifting meditation on the meaning of yearning and loss. Lang effortlessly blends voices and movement into a seamless performance piece of restrained beauty and power.
After intermission, the award-winning choreographer/artistic director seamlessly incorporates striking design elements and classical ballet vocabulary into two more artfully crafted, emotionally riveting, contemporary works—The Calling and Thousand Yard Stare.
Jessica Lang, director and choreographer
Notre Dame Ritornello Orchestra
Victoria Fraser, soprano
Joshua Boggs, countertenor
Mark McCullough, lighting designer
Bradon McDonald, costume designer
Marjorie Bradley Kellogg, set designer
Mark Doerries, conductor
Daniel Stein, concertmaster