Awen - The Sacred Veil, an original creation by Martin Harriague, choreographer and director of the Ballet de l'Opéra Grand Avignon, brings together for the first time his dancers and the Opéra Chorus, directed by Alan Woodbridge.
Presented in the Grande Chapelle of the Palais des Papes, this work brings to life The Sacred Veil by internationally-renowned, Grammy Award-winning composer Eric Whitacre.
The musical work, written for piano, cello and choir, is inspired by the intimate story of Julie, who died of cancer, and her partner Anthony Silvestri, Whitacre's librettist and long-time friend. The music explores the intensity of their bond, the love shared and the trials endured.
Martin Harriague's choreography turns the body into a musical instrument: movement not only accompanies the music, it extends it and makes it visible. The dancers embody the music, carry the emotion and give shape to this universal story of connection, transformation and resilience. The finesse and precision of the Chorus converse with the bodies in a subtle exchange of intensity and delicacy.
The Grand Chapel of the Palais des papes, a place steeped in history and spirituality, amplifies the meditative and sensory dimension of the piece. AWEN - The Sacred Veil offers audiences an intense moment of dialogue between dance and voice in a unique, profoundly human space.
