The implementation of a Christian theme in the ballet genre as the reflection of a choreographer’s view (on the example of Nunc Dimittis by Nacho Duato)

Abstract

The article analyzes the ballet Nunc Dimittis by the Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato from the perspective of embodying a Christian theme in it. The ballet is considered in the context of the work of other choreographers of the mid-20^th - early 21^st centuries who addressed the same theme (John Neumeier’s ballet Passion for Matthew, Maurice Bejart’s ballet Cantata 51, Angelin Preljocaje’s ballets Annunciation and Creation 2010). One of the research tasks posed in this article is the analysis of the specifics of the embodiment of Christian themes in choreographic interpretations, based on the ideological positions of the choreographer. Due to comparison with other works, the artistic originality of the choreographic language of Nacho Duato, his vision of the aspects of faith and a look at the eternal human issues are more clearly visible. The article describes the work of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, whose works have become the musical basis of the ballet Nunc Dimittis. A brief review of the compositional method and style of Arvo Pärt - tintinnabuli, its structural elements is given. However, first of all, attention is paid to the meaningful aspects of Pärt’s music, the center of creativity of which is the sacral idea. Common features common to both the choreographer and the composer are revealed. As one of the important factors for Nacho Duato in the creation of the ballet, the religious content of the text Nunc Dimittis is analyzed. Also in the article the compositional structure of the performance in its connection with music, choreography and scenography is considered. At the end of the article, conclusions are drawn about the specifics of Nacho Duato’s interpretation and choreographic solution, compared with other choreographers addressing Christian themes.