A profound dialogue between Baroque mastery and contemporary urgency is coming to London. Sadler’s Wells Theatre is set to host the premiere of Il Cimento dell’Armonia e dell’Inventione (The Contest Between Harmony and Invention) on Friday, 8 May. This highly anticipated collaboration brings together legendary choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, acclaimed artist Radouan Mriziga, and their respective companies, Rosas and A7LA5.
The work takes its inspiration—and its title—from Antonio Vivaldi’s famous set of violin concertos, most notably The Four Seasons. Using the exquisite recording by violinist Amandine Beyer and her ensemble Gli Incogniti as a foundational spark, De Keersmaeker and Mriziga have crafted a choreographic language that strips away the over-familiarity of the music to reveal its core.
The title itself suggests a struggle between the fixed "harmony" of the natural world and the "invention" of human intervention. In this new work, featuring four performers, this struggle is used as a poignant metaphor for the current climate crisis. By exploring the geometry and patterns present in both the score and the natural world, the piece invites the audience to contemplate the shifting seasons of our planet.
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker has long been celebrated for her rigorous, mathematical approach to dance, often grounding her choreography in complex musical structures. By partnering with Radouan Mriziga, whose work often explores the intersection of architecture, movement, and the body, this production promises a unique, multi-stranded experience that is as intellectual as it is visceral.
The performance will take place at Sadler’s Wells on Rosebery Avenue. Critics and arts enthusiasts are encouraged to RSVP by Tuesday, 5 May, to witness what is poised to be one of the most significant dance events of the season—a ritualistic return to the essence of Vivaldi and a stark reminder of the fragile world we inhabit.
