The staging of the “Marienvesper”, Monteverdi’s “Vespers of the Blessed Virgin”, in the Jesuit Church in Lucerne revolves around the dynamic interplay of music, dance and spatial experience. Kostas Murkudis’ built-in components, especially designed for the “Marienvesper”, restructure the sacred space and create a multi-dimensional stage on which the 13 instrumentalists, nine singers and eleven dancers as well as an audience of up to 300 people can move freely.
The choreography of the musicians enables a spatial experience of the music. With the movement of the “sound sources”, the “Marienvesper” unfold into the space, so that the listeners can “follow” each single voice. The choreography of the dancers reinforces the sensation of listening to the music and gives it a timbre or a tactile level. Thus, a multisensory overall experience is possible that appeals to all the senses: The staging in the room creates the conditions for a physical experience and a differentiated listening to one of Monteverdi’s most outstanding works, and enables a collaborative experience in the interplay of word, sound and movement.
The different spatial levels offer different perspectives on the scenery and the participants. This dynamic way of staging allows for a fundamental reflection on what community is and can be. How do I relate to other people? To my neighbour in the audience? Which role do I take?
The Jesuit Church lends the staging an additional spiritual dimension: In the church, the performance can become a liturgical installation. Given that the seating of churches only became common in the Reformation era (starting from Protestant territories), this form of performance in a way approximates the work to old forms of church services.