Kytice (Bouquet) – Intergenerational Dialogue

Photo: Dragan Dragin

Kytice – intergenerational dialogue set to music of Bohuslav Martinů with lyrics by Sušil and Erben is a suggestive statement examining eternal values in human life. The eight vocal and instrumental compositions, alternately intertwined and forming pairs (Ouverture – Sestra a travička, Selanka – Kravarky, Intráda – Milá na rodinu, Koleda – Člověk a smrt) tell the tales of love, life, and death. The existential rendition of the subject took place in an unusual and historically important location that is not regularly accessible to the public, the Malostranský Cemetery. Statues by Olbram Zoubek were part of the scenography. The choreography emphasised the contrast between the real and the symbolic, the obvious and the arcane, the external and the innermost. The music of Bohuslav Martinů’s Kytice was not interpreted in the usual folklorist way but with an existential dimension.

The performance was choreographed and directed by Eva Blažíčková. Dora Sulženko Hoštová was the assistant director, scenography was created by Ivan Adam, light design by Jan Beneš, costumes by Lucia Škandíková. Dancers: Dora Sulženko Hoštová, Dagmar Chaloupková, Radim Klásek, Zuzana Sýkorová, and a company of dancers of four different generations. The performances served as a prologue to festival Bohuslav Martinů Days 2014. They were featured in a documentary chronicling the Year of Czech Music 2014, which was filmed in coproduction of Czech Television and the Arts and Theatre Institute. The performances were also separately filmed by director and cinematographer Olga Špátová.