Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda is a site-specific project aimed at enhancing Italian cultural heritage, combining contemporary dance and the baroque melodrama of Claudio Monteverdi.

The performance, directed by Fabio Cherstich and Philippe Kratz, is designed for staging in both theatrical settings and within museum and monumental heritage contexts.

With Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, we bring to life an extraordinary literary text, famous music (on the four hundredth anniversary of its creation), a theatrical vision, and dance and vocal performers. This show is intended for special places, of great charm but also fragility, such as museums. It aims for a joint enhancement of the best this country can offer, in terms of “heritage” (the locations, but also the text and music) and “creation” (direction, choreography, and dance). For once, making history and contemporaneity coexist.”

Gigi Cristoforetti, Director of the National Choreographic Center / Aterballetto

In my vision of Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, I imagine a confined, circular space, where the closeness and resemblance of bodies play a fundamental role. Together with choreographer Philippe Kratz, we explore the idea of bodies as mirrors, thus portraying a humanity struggling against itself. Eros and Thanatos emerge as equally powerful forces, creating a paradoxical atmosphere in this perfectly balanced conflict between human beings. In our vision, Tancredi and Clorinda are contemporary warriors, indissolubly bound to one another, forced to fight and to enact a story that has already been written.

A single voice brings three characters to life: the text itself, Tancredi, and Clorinda merge into the body and sound of a single singer. This estranged sound, constrained within a circular path, creates a sense of constant repetition, underscoring the endless cycle of this story of love and death—tragically destined to repeat itself through the centuries and reach us today with all its force, as an emanation of the poetic power of Tasso’s words and the sublime music of Claudio Monteverdi.

Fabio Cherstich, Director

From the Tasso’s tale, transposed into music by Claudio Monteverdi, the most obvious themes are the struggle between man and woman and religious conversion, but these are also aspects that I find less intriguing: adapting them into dance would lead to a narrative of mere circumstances.

A more philosophical or psychoanalytic interpretation of this struggle, from which the two protagonists emerge defeated, deceived, and lonely, appears much more compelling to me. In the opposition of their roles lies a whole world: the seeking, the confronting, and the wounding of each other. The dynamic is that of a ritualistic and conflictual duel between two entities drawing near. The absurdity of the act is revealed when one of them loses their life, and we realize that the other, nevertheless, has not won… a deep and shared wound that remains on both bodies.

Are these then two individuals battling each other, or perhaps it is one person wrestling with themselves?

Philippe Kratz, Choreographer

The project of live dance and music in museums, Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, marks a new milestone in the enhancement of cultural heritage through the integration of various art forms. Dance enriches the museum experience with its expressiveness and ability to engage, making it vibrant, dynamic, and accessible to all. The synergy among numerous institutions involved in the project allows us to present the performance in various cultural venues nationwide, establishing this initiative among the best practices of the National Museum System.

Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums
Ministry of Culture

We are pleased that from a project—Italia Danza—born from the General Directorate for Public and Cultural Diplomacy to promote Italian contemporary dance abroad, a bridge has been built to bring this format into Italian museums through collaboration between Aterballetto and the General Directorate of Museums. For us, this new partnership confirms the value and modernity of the work that the General Directorate I represent carries out daily to promote Italian culture abroad.

Filippo La Rosa, Deputy Director General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

We are honored to lead such a virtuous project: building a national network to bring baroque melodrama, live music, dance, and contemporary direction into our museums is undoubtedly a valuable way to enhance our heritage. The Church of Sant’Agata, part of the National Archaeological Museum and Roman Theater of Spoleto, seemed the most suitable space to host Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda: a place capable of being an exceptional stage to offer viewers a unique experience of the convergence of past and present languages. The dancers will perform in an 11th-century environment, facing the new altarpiece created by artist Stefano di Stasio—a dialogue between ancient and contemporary that complements this project beautifully.

Costantino D’Orazio, Director of National Museums in Perugia –
Regional Directorate of National Museums Umbria

Direction and visuals: Fabio Cherstich
Choreography and stage movement: Philippe Kratz
Music: Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda by Claudio Monteverdi
Dancers: Gador Lago Benito, Alberto Terribile

Co-production: Fondazione Nazionale della Danza / Aterballetto, Teatro Regio di Parma / Festival Verdi, Torinodanza Festival – Teatro Stabile di Torino – Teatro Nazionale, GhislieriMusica – Centro di Musica Antica

SITE-SPECIFIC VERSION

  • Church of Sant’Agata – National Archaeological Museum and Roman Theatre of Spoleto – September 12, 2024 (Premiere)

  • Castel Sant’Angelo – September 13, 2024

  • Castle and Park of Racconigi – September 22, 2024

  • National Museum of Villa Pisani – September 28, 2024

  • Certosa and Museum of San Martino – October 3, 2024

  • Castello Svevo – October 5, 2024

  • National Archaeological Museum Mario Torelli – October 6, 2024

  • Kosmos – Natural History Museum, University of Pavia – October 12, 2024

THEATRICAL VERSION

  • Preview
    Turin – Torinodanza Festival, Fonderie Limone – September 20–21, 2024
  • Premiere
    Parma – Festival Verdi, Teatro Farnese – October 18–19, 2024

The project is part of Italia Danza, a co-designed initiative by the Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) and CCN/Aterballetto, aimed at promoting Italy’s artistic heritage abroad.

UPCOMING DATES

VIDEO GALLERY