LIGHT FROM THE END OF THE WORLD
Ballet by J. Grib/A. Kruusmaa
The return of harmony lost
LIGHT FROM THE END OF THE WORLD
Ballet by Jevgeni Grib and Alisson Kruusmaa
World premiere in the Estonian National Opera on November 29, 2024
Choreographer and Stage Director: Jevgeni Grib
Composer: Alisson Kruusmaa
Music Director and Conductor: Kaspar Mänd
Conductor: Andres Kaljuste
Librettist: Eero Epner
Set Designer: Kristjan Suits
Costumes Designer: Tanel Veenre
Lighting Designer: Priidu Adlas
“Light from the End of the World” tells a story about the creation of the world, the birth of mankind, the loss of harmony, the greed, the destruction of the old world – and the possibility of a new world. When facing apocalypse, humans expose their darkest impulses as well as hidden tenderness. Superficiality is cast aside, and the crisp reality of human existence is the last thing that the old world witnesses. But, amidst destruction there dawns the possibility of the birth of a new world. The various phases of birth and destruction are being connected by the development of the heroine, who follows the rise and fall of the world, but whose path leads her away from the mainstream humankind.
“As a choreographer, Jevgeni creates impressive stagings of emotional-atmospheric landscapes, where musicality, movement, sets and ideas are seamlessly merged. Emotionally nuanced, shrewd choreography and deep sense of life’s philosophy make his works rank among the masterpieces of art”.
Marina Kesler (Tantsuliidu Kuukiri, nr 119)
“Through and through an artist on whose canvas colours become music and the graphic sketches of a body acquire a deeper sense in movement. A creator, who can turn one word into a wordless story”.
Mare Tommingas (Tantsuliidu Kuukiri, nr 119)
Alisson Kruusmaa has emerged as one of the most exciting and commissioned young Estonian composers of today. The work of Alisson Kruusmaa ranges from chamber music to large scale orchestral pieces and stage music that is often inspired by images of nature. The sound-world created by Kruusmaa has breadth, light and tenderness – the lyrical sense of emotion is balanced by a crisp, clean form and a nuanced mode of expression. During the season 2023/2024, she is in residency at the Dutch National Opera and Ballet in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
