Miserere

Miserere

Freely inspired by Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Miserere

MISERERE questions the human condition through the eyes and voice of a woman, a seer, a sibylline oracle, accompanied by an exultant chorus. The Miserere (ZWV57) by the Baroque composer Zelenka (1679-1745) serves as a source of inspiration for a contemporary musical, theatrical and choreographic rewrite. Taken out of its religious straitjacket, this psalm is presented in a resolutely secular and poetic context. Part pop icon, part mater dolorosa, a woman speaks to us: at once concrete and mythical, rebellious, inspired and vibrant, she takes upon herself the pains and tears of the world in order to transfigure them. As she sings and utters the Miserere, she is surrounded by an energetic chorus of six dancers who embody the haunting, ever-renewing forces of life.

An initial exploration of the project has been presented at the Théâtre de la Vie (Festival des mots, des notes) in June 2023.

Premiere planned in January 2026.

Credits

Conception and direction: Ingrid von Wantoch Rekowski
Artistic collaboration & choreography: Serge Aimé Coulibaly
Performer: Candy Saulnier
Dancers : Suzie Babin, Frauke Mariën, Adonis Nebié, Nathanäel Petit, …
Dramaturgy: Manolo Sellati
Assistant: Laura Wolf
Libretto: Éric Brucher
Sound creation and composition:  Sébastien Schmitz
Lighting & stage design : Arié Van Egmond
Costumes: Regine Becker
Production advisor: Isabelle Bodson
Production supervisor: Pauline Bernard / Quai 41

Production : Lucilia Ceasar. Coproduction : Palais des Beaux-Arts (Charleroi), Théâtre de Namur, Central La Louvière, Charleroi danse, La Monnaie / De Munt (Bruxelles), KVS. With the support of : Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (Direction of theatre).