With En Masse, bringing together ten acrobats and three musicians on stage, the highly innovative Australian company Circa delivers a breathtaking theatrical creation centered on human relationships, musically anchored in works by Schubert and Stravinsky.
Directed by Yaron Lifschitz, Circa has been redefining contemporary circus since 2004, blending it seamlessly with dance, theatre, and music. En Masse, a show for ten acrobats and three musicians, is divided into two parts and explores the dynamics between individuals and groups by delving into, and intertwining, the themes of endings and (re)beginnings.
The first part, Endings, weaves together excerpts from Schubert’s lieder (Swan Song, Winter Journey) with industrial-tinged electronic soundscapes by contemporary composer Klara Lewis. The second part, Beginnings, features a live performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring by two pianists. Often visually dizzying, the production as a whole conveys a rare, visionary intensity.