MARCIO DA SILVA

For me, the essential inspiration for this production was the vibrant music of Monteverdi, and the extraordinary ability that he and his contemporaries had to convey the vivid tapestry of human emotions through their music.

By selecting a pasticcio of 12 arias and ritornelli, I have endeavoured to use Monteverdi’s musical world to narrate the abstract life journey of a symbolic or representative man, with each musical interlude representing a different emotion. The physicality of those emotions is explored through both vocal expression and movement.

Within the abstract narration, each emotion relates to a specific moment in the man’s life journey. As the set suggests, there is a closed loop – or circle of life – so the end is connected to the beginning, but the emotions are not portrayed chronologically. The arias selected are unrelated and have been positioned within the framework of the production in a manner that removes that aspect of time which so often dominates human experience – simple narrative causality. This is designed to challenge our perception of the impact of emotions on our psyche – our understanding of the relationship between emotion and experience.

The number 12 was chosen because of its significance in life and history, most especially in the measurement of time; 12 as a dimension of space and time; 12 hours; 12 months; 12 stations of the moon and the sun; 12 zodiac signs; 12 chromatic notes; 12 apostles; 12 Olympians. This number contributes to the sense of universality - it connects our past to our future and connects us across cultures.

Through Kieran White’s insightful musicality and dramatic ability, we hope to create a unique bridge between Monteverdi’s powerfully beautiful music and our audience.