Dancers: Cass Mortimer Eipper and Charmene Yap. Photo: Peter Greig
Triptych, the new show from Sydney Dance Company, is an ambitious large-scale suite of three pieces choreographed by Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela to three works by composer Benjamin Britten: Simple Symphony, Les Illuminations, and Variation 10. Played live by ACO2, the string ensemble of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and under the direction of Guest Director, violinist Thomas Gould, the performance is vigorous, buoyant, and full of colour and warmth.
It is refreshing to see this performance presented as a collaboration with the musicians visible, seated upstage and their presence continually lit throughout the performance. The Sydney Dance Company performers dance in front of them often in silhouette, half light or semi darkness. When Katie Noonan singing the poems of Arthur Rimbaud, joins the orchestra for Les Illuminations, with her white blonde hair and her fluid gestural movements, she becomes a strong physical presence throughout the work.
Les Illuminations is the stand out piece of the three works presented. The combination of works create something that is much more than the sum of its parts. The stripped back, simple black costuming for the dancers, the structure and varying depths of the lighting, the splendid playing of the ACO2, the voice of Katie Noonan, and the athletic artistry of the dancers come together to create a piece of dark, atmospheric performance to give you shivers. In particular, the Helpman Award winning dancer Charmene Yap, partnered by Cass Mortimer Eipper, brings a particular virtuosic musicality to her dance that allows her to interact with the clear, high voice of Katie Noonan to create a synergy between movement and sound that is unforgettable.
The evening is full of athletic, excellent dance with some very fine duos, and trios marked by inventive, witty choreography.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Triptych
Sydney Dance Company
Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay
Choreographer: Rafael Bonachela
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Singer: Katie Noonan
Guest Director of ACO2: Thomas Gould
Musicians: ACO2
Costumes: Toni Maticevski
Lighting Design: Benjamin Cisterne
September 29 – October 10
