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I ONLY APPEAR TO BE DEAD / 2005

I ONLY APPEAR TO BE DEAD

A Musical Performance about H.C. Andersen

2005



View All Performances

Credits
PARTICIPANTS

Singers Danish National Choir
Lasse Bach, Jane Bertelsen, Hanne Bremholm, Mads Elung-Jensen, Kirsten Grove, Michael W. Hansen, Steen Huttunen, Hjørdis Jakobsen, Peter Lindeman Jørgensen, Klaudia Kidon, Linnéa Lomholt, Marianne Lund, Torsten Nielsen, Lars Pedersen
H.C. Andersen Ninna Steen
Conductor Kaare Hansen / Martin Nagashima Toft

Concept, direction Kirsten Dehlholm
Music Manos Tsangaris
Electronics Simon Stockhausen
Visual dramaturgy Ralf Richardt Strøbech
Set design Maja Ravn, Ralf Richardt Strøbech, Kirsten Dehlholm
Costumes Maja Ravn
Wigs, make-up Helena von Bergen
Light design Jesper Kongshaug
Sound design Mogens Laursen
Dramaturgy Claus Lynge

Production manager Arthur van der Zaag
Light engineer Jeppe Jessen Lawaetz
Sound engineer Anders Jørgensen
Performance manager Lene Sonne / Siri Vilbøl
Stage manager Adalsteinn Stefansson
Hairdresser Helena von Bergen
Assistant to hairdresser/costumes Siri Vilbøl / Lise Klitten
DVD Richard Sandler

Coproduced by
Danish National Choir
Hotel Pro Forma
Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation
Schauspiel Köln
La Biennale di Venezia 2005

With support from
Danish Arts Council
Kunststiftung NRW
City of Copenhagen
Wilhelm Hansen Fonden
Beckett Fonden
Toyota-fonden
Dansk Kor Forbund
Overretssagfører L Zeuthens Mindelegat

Reviews
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
On the track of the sensitive writer of fairytales – ‘I only appear to be dead’
A poetic performance of music, dance and art.

Read the full review here

Kölnische Rundschau
Fascinating music theatre about Andersen..
Read the full review here

Primafila
I only appear to be dead, the performance inspired by Hans Christian Andersen and given by the Danish theatre company Hotel Pro Forma,
was one of the most beautiful and unsettling experiences to be had during the Theatre Festival at the Biennale in Venice, managed by Romeo
Catellucci.

– Vega Partesotti
Read the full review here

Selected Performances
World premiere on 9 April 2005
Schauspiel Köln, Cologne, Germany

Danish Premiere on August 2005
Christiansborg Ridehus, Copenhagen,


The title I Only Appear to be Dead refers to the handwritten note Hans Christian Andersen would place on his bedside table at night, due to his fear of being buried alive. But the title can also refer to the enormous attention devoted to him and his literary and visual work in the present day.

Andersen kept a journal of his experiences for most of his life. I only appear to be dead focuses on the poet’s journal entries, primarily based on his many journeys and periods of residence outside of Denmark.

He felt a constant need for new impressions, whilst never losing sight of his native country. All of this takes place with Denmark, Europe and the historical, social and technical developments of the 19th century as a graphic backdrop.

The man of the diaries is a completely different person from the internationally recognised writer of fairytales who ‘only writes for children’. Darkness, doubt and fatality form the fundament of his writings. An inner voice of one who is only set free through the act of creation.

The diaries are harrowing and ample proof of the fact that he found it very hard to control his imagination. His obsessive ideas and attacks of angst were directly channelled into his fairytales. A sight and mind containing sublime poetry and incredible eeriness, which survives through the use of humour, black humour, and an inexorable belief in happiness. Forever ever after…

The performance I Only Appear to be Dead focuses on the darker side of Andersen’s journeys and fantasies. From the diaries concrete accounts and comments come to life as a number of scenic acts. Situations are acted out in several different versions. Hints of stories are shown in brief sequences that are repeated and form long chains of events. A stream of images is frozen by intersecting moments.

A long and narrow stage (28 m x 4 m), follows the length of the room. Depth and distance between audience and performers are replaced by intimacy and a wide angle spatial experience.

The performing characters come from the left and walk to the right as the words are read in a book. In single file, in pairs or groups they take their places in the image-creating tableaux or continue in configuration without stopping. The audience follows them without being able to grasp completely the sequence on the long stage. A skewed perceptual gaze increases distance and intimacy.

The stage is the path and the journey, where the events of life take place, subject to Andersen’s original optics. They remind us of the many realities that exist – and that everything depends on sight and senses. The music is composed for fourteen singers and is performed both live and in electronic arrangement.

Duration 90 min. no intermission


Danish
JEG ER KUN SKINDØD
En øjensynlig musikalsk manøvre om H.C. Andersen
2005

Titlen Jeg er kun skindød henviser til den håndskrevne seddel, H. C. Andersen havde liggende på sit sengebord om natten af angst for at blive levende begravet. Men titlen kunne lige så godt referere til den kolossale opmærksomhed, hans person og hans værk, både det litterære og det billedkunstneriske, tildeles i disse år.

Det meste af sit liv registrerede Andersen sine oplevelser i dagbogsform. Forestillingen har valgt at fokusere på digterens dagbogsoptegnelser med vægt på hans mange rejser og ophold i udlandet. Digteren havde konstant brug for nye indtryk, samtidig med at han aldrig slap blikket på hjemlandet. Det hele sker med Danmark, Europa og 1800tallets historiske, sociale og tekniske udvikling som tankevækkende baggrund.

Den Andersen vi finder i dagbøgerne er en helt anden end den internationalt anerkendte eventyrdigter, der ”kun skriver for børn.” Det er mørket, tvivlen, den skæbnesvangre grundstemning, der hersker. En stemme fra et indre, der kun sættes fri gennem skaberværket. Dagbøgerne aflægger rystende vidnesbyrd om, at han havde svært ved at beherske sin fantasi. Hans fikse ideer og anfald af angst var omkostningerne ved den fantasivirksomhed, der blev båret direkte ind i eventyrene. Et syn og et sind, som rummer den største poesi og den største uhygge, men overlever ved humor, en sort humor, og en uafvendelig lykketro. Helt ind i evigheden.

Jeg er kun skindød fokuserer på den uhyggelige side af H. C. Andersens rejser og fantasier. Fra dagbøgerne hentes konkrete beskrivelser og kommentarer, der bliver til en række sceniske handlinger. Situationer der gennemspilles i flere versioner. Antydninger af fortællinger der gentager sig og bliver til lange forløb. En bærende billedstrøm der går i stå i skærende øjeblikke.

En lang smal scene (32 m x 4 m) følger rummets længdeakse. Dybde og afstand mellem publikum og performere erstattes af intimitet og panoramisk rumoplevelse. De medvirkende figurer kommer fra venstre og går mod højre som ordene læses i en bog. Enkeltvis, i par og i grupper indtager de deres pladser i billedskabende tableauer eller fortsætter i konfigurationer uden stop. Tilskuerne følger dem uden helt at kunne overskue forløbet på den lange scene. Et skævt perspektivisk blik forstærker afstand og nærhed. Scenen er vejen og rejsen, hvor livets hændelser finder sted, underlagt Andersens originale optik. De minder os om de mange virkeligheder, der findes og fortæller os, at alt afhænger af syn og sansning. Sang og musik er komponeret for tolv sangere, fremføres live og i elektronisk bearbejdelse.

Varighed 90 min. uden pause

Hotel Pro Forma Tomsgårdsvej 19 2400 København NV Denmark Tel. + 45 51 27 87 47 mail@hotelproforma.dk

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