Anima Obscura
In her first production for Scapino as artistic director, Nanine Linning explores the desire for immortality: from the occult practices of alchemists to experiments by biohackers.
The dancers are protagonists in the search for the one elixir that makes us invulnerable and enables us to escape our earthly limitations.
Anima Obscura is a sumptuous total artwork that fuses choreography, video performance, animation, holograms, costume design and live music. The digital technologies challenge the expressive possibilities of dance to create an innovative, sensual theatrical experience.
The performance will feature Johannes Brahms‘ Ein Deutsches Requiem, cut with Yannis Kyriakides’ Ein Schemen - a contemporary ‘re-composition’ for choir, harp and electronics. The music will be performed live by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Laurens Symphonic (choir) and live harp by Remy van Kesteren.
Season ‘24/’25 Anima Obscura will be performed exclusively at Nieuwe Luxor Theatre as part of O. festival for Opera. Music. Theatre.
The press on Anima Obscura
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Die Glocke ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Set in motion and accompanied by music and dance, a total work of art has emerged that evokes strong emotions which captivated the audience mercilessly.” -
Westfalen Blatt
“Anima Obscura” is a fantastic and beautiful, but also disturbing piece, which continues to captivate you with steady tension. But also with the perfect interaction of dance and video animation, music and light as well as stage design and costumes.”
Calendar
| Wednesday 28 May 2025 - 20:00 | Try-out Anima Obscura | Nieuwe Luxor Theater Rotterdam | With live orchestra |
| Thursday 29 May 2025 - 20:00 | Premiere Anima Obscura | Nieuwe Luxor Theater Rotterdam | With live orchestra |
| Friday 30 May 2025 - 20:00 | Performance Anima Obscura | Nieuwe Luxor Theater Rotterdam | With live orchestra |
| Saturday 31 May 2025 - 20:00 | Performance Anima Obscura | Nieuwe Luxor Theater Rotterdam | With live orchestra |
| Sunday 1 June 2025 - 20:00 | Performance Anima Obscura | Nieuwe Luxor Theater Rotterdam | With live orchestra |
Credits
Concept, director and choreography
Nanine Linning
Video scenography
Claudia Rohrmoser
Music
Johannes Brahms „Ein Deutsches Requiem”, Yannis Kyriakides „Ein Schemen”, performed live by Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (led by Giuseppe Mengoli), Laurens Symphonic and Remy van Kesteren
Costume design
Irina Shaposhnikova
Light design
Thomas C. Hase
Stage design
Nanine Linning, Christa Beland
Dramaturgy
Peggy Olislaegers, Janett Metzger
Choreographic assistance
Kyle Patrick, Sarah Deltenre
Music advice
Tido Visser
Philosopher
Jappe Groenendijk
Nanine Linning
Nanine Linning has gained international recognition over the past twenty years with her large multidisciplinary productions that combine dance and opera, design, fashion and visual art.
With her strong visual language and explosive dance, she reaches a wide audience, which also follows her faithfully in the Netherlands. Performances such as Bacon, Requiem and Zero have received international acclaim. Nanine Linning works closely with various internationally renowned artists such as Teodor Currentzis, Alexandros Tsolakis, Yuima Nakazato, Alexey Retinsky and Studio Drift. Her collaborations with Iris van Herpen and Bart Hess led to exhibitions in several museums.
The music of Anima Obscura
Brahms' requiem is not a death mass accompanying the deceased on their way to the afterlife, but music that offers comfort to the bereaved. Music for the living, then, with great melodic richness and emotional intensity. Yannis Kyriakides calls his recomposition ‘a dreamscape with fragments of Brahms appearing and disappearing in a disorderly manner’.
In the performance, Brahms‘ music represents earthly life; Kyriakides’ electronic sound world is like an echo that provides access to another time dimension and parallel reality on stage - this music allows the use of flashbacks and flashforwards accompanied by a different dance language.
Music performed live by
The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the most prominent symphony orchestras in Europe, known for its energetic concerts and innovative approach to audiences. Since its founding in 1918, the orchestra has built a strong international reputation under the leadership of renowned conductors such as Valery Gergiev and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
The orchestra performs not only in its home base, De Doelen in Rotterdam, but also in prestigious concert halls around the world. With a rich history of acclaimed recordings and innovative digital projects, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra remains a major force in the world of classical music.
Laurens Symfonisch is a young, large choir from Rotterdam, led by Wiecher Mandemaker, and is part of the Laurens Vocaal choir family. The choir has distinguished itself through collaborations with renowned orchestras such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Their performances, including Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher and Samuel Barber's Agnus Dei, have received international recognition, including an International Classical Music Award. Laurens Symfonisch is known for its professional sound and successful performances of major symphonic works, such as Beethoven's Ninth and Mahler's Second Symphony. Recent highlights include their performances in Tan Dun's Requiem for Nature and Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms.
Remy van Kesteren's life changed at the age of five when he first heard the enchanting sound of a harp, sparking a lifelong passion. Twenty years later, he was recognized as a "brilliant harpist" by The New York Times and went on to win the world’s largest international harp competition in 2013.
Despite his success, at 25, he felt the need to push the boundaries of his instrument, leading him to explore new musical directions, including cross-genre performances and innovative harp designs. He even collaborated in creating the Salvi Réus, a unique 49-string harp, and the Harp-E, an affordable option for children. With over 12 million Spotify streams and creative ventures spanning dance, film, and festivals, Remy continues to expand the harp’s reach to new audiences worldwide.
Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, soprano Aphrodite Patoulidou is a rising star in the world of classical music. She first gained international attention in 2018 as part of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists Initiative, and since then, she has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, and Cleveland Orchestra.
Known for her virtuosic performances, Aphrodite has toured Europe’s most prestigious concert halls and created visual art to accompany her musical performances. Her operatic roles include Elle (La Voix Humaine), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Belinda (Dido & Aeneas), with upcoming engagements in Paris, Athens, and Cologne. Beyond opera, she explores dark romantic themes through special projects, collaborating with various artistic disciplines, including songwriting and visual arts.
Italian conductor Giuseppe Mengoli began his conducting career at 19, recognized for his leadership skills as a concertmaster. He completed his violin studies with cum laude honors and a special mention, followed by a master’s degree in chamber music and further studies with Tianwa Yang at the Hochschule für Musik in Würzburg.
Currently studying orchestral conducting at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar under Nicolás Pasquet, Mengoli continues to balance his dual career as a conductor and violinist, regularly leading orchestras like the Staatskapelle Weimar and the Jenaer Philharmonie.
