22 February 2015
Newsdesk
Coup Fatal features Congolese counter-tenor Serge Kakudji, with an orchestra of 12 musicians from Kinshasa integrating Baroque phrases with traditional and popular Congolese music, rock and jazz.
Inspired by the grand gestures of the rakish ‘sapeurs’ - the dandies of Kinshasa - Coup Fatal’s original music is enriched with the diversity of the musicians, and with the vocals of Serge Kakudji, a whole new contemporary world is created, both in music and image.
With an energetic and entertaining edge, Coup Fatal features guitar player Rodriguez Vangama and musical direction by Brussels composer Fabrizio Cassol, while director Alain Platel and dancer Romain Guion seek to give the piece its theatrical form. The set is designed in collaboration with artist Freddy Tsimba, who creates vast, disturbing sculptures using cartridge cases which he collects in Congolese war zones.
Director Alain Platel was born in 1956, in Ghent. He trained as a remedial educationalist and is an autodidact director. In 1984 he set up a small group with friends and relatives and together produced a range of works including Emma (1998), Bonjour Madame (1993), La Tristeza Complice (1995), Iets op Bach (1998) with les ballets C de la B, and collaborations with Arne Sierens Moeder en Kind (1995), Bernadetje (1996) and Allemaal Indiaan (1999).
After Wolf (2003), Platel’s choir project for the opening of the new KVS marked the start of close collaboration with composer Fabrizio Cassol. Their first collaboration was vsprs (2006); in 2008 they worked together for pitié! where they first met Serge Kakudji. Coup Fatal reunites the trio once again. Platel’s other works include Nine Finger (2007), Out of Context – for Pina and Gardenia (2010).
His biggest project C(H)ŒURS in 2012 was created on demand of opera director Gerard Mortier and with dancers and the choir, examines how dangerously beautiful a group can be. He also entered the arena of the dance film together with British director Sophie Fiennes, Because I Sing (2001), Ramallah!Ramallah!Ramallah! (2005), VSPRS Show and Tell (2007) and solo de balletten en ci en lá (2006).
An Artistic platform for a variety of choreographers, les ballets C de la B enables artists from various disciplines and backgrounds to take part in the creative process, upholding its motto ‘this dance is for the world and the world is for everyone’.
