15th Festival 2005

Conception


»Wahlverwandtschaften«

(»Elective Affinities«)

Theatre and dance from the old and new Europe

01 – 06 November 2005


(Preface to the printed programme – including conception of the festival)


What has been affecting me in this 15th festival year:

Thanks:
To all partners in city, state, and federal government, to the sponsors, my team, Alain Platel, Michael Freundt, many colleagues at home and abroad

Mourning:
The death of Matthias Renner, founder of the euro-scene Leipzig in October 1993, three weeks before the 3rd festival

Working maxim:
Never »tomorrow«, always »today«

Unfulfilled wish for a guest performance up to now:
Christoph Marthaler, Germany / Johann Le Guillerm, Paris

Guest performance longest wished for:
Emio Greco

Conception:
The term »Elective Affi nities«, originally borrowed from chemistry and taken on by Goethe stands for a freedom of choice as well as for a certain irrationality of human action = »kindred spirits«.

Facts:
14 guest performances = 7 marvellous plays of companies that are known throughout Europe and 7 individual companies to be discovered / again with a focal point on Eastern Europe / 9 reunions with »elective affi nities« and 5 new acquaintances / for the 7th time »Das beste deutsche Tanzsolo« (»Best German dance solo«)

Fortune:
Lights going out prior to each performance and a curious audience


Ann-Elisabeth Wolff
Festival Director and Artistic Direction

Leipzig, 09.09.2005