If you always thought Beethoven''''s 9th needed visuals, you can now "watch" one of the world''''s greatest pieces of music: See the Hungarian National Ballet''''s "Human Anthem".

The Hungarian National Ballet has created a symphonic ballet, "Human Anthem," based on Beethoven''''s "Symphony No. 9." You can experience the symphony and the dance on November 15-16 at Shanghai Grand Theater.

The performance is part of "Liberty, Love! Hungarian Culture in Focus" - Hungarian Season in China 2007-09. It will be performed as part of the Shanghai International Arts Festival.

Colorful, classic Hungarian ballet art goes back more than 200 years: Today it combines Hungarian folk dance with classical Russian ballet and contemporary dance from Europe and the United States.

The ballet "Human Anthem" was created by Gabor Kevehazi, art director of the Hungarian National Ballet, and Ivan Marko, a well-known figure in contemporary Hungarian ballet. It debuted in 2006 to critical acclaim in the Palace of Arts in Budapest, the largest arts center in Central Europe.

The four movements of the symphony in "Human Anthems" are symbolized by the four elements: earth, fire, water and air.

The first movement symbolized by Earth depicts the dawn of human existence. Earth is the battleground for man, where dawn comes at last after a fierce fight with the forces of darkness.

The joy of life is expressed in the second movement symbolized by Fire, involving flame-like effects.

The third movement symbolized by Water tells the story of two people. On the moonlit stage, an elderly man staggers forward pushing his aged love in a wheelchair.

He lifts her out and as their bodies form a cross, their childhood selves appear. The stories of their lives are told by other characters, until we return to the initial image: two old people leaving only memories behind.

 
The last movement featuring "Ode to Joy" is symbolized by Air, expressing man''''s yearning for freedom, and his belonging to a family, to a community and humanity.

Apart from the symphonic ballet, a musical dialogue between two prominent Hungary improvisers in music is also featured.

"Piano Dialogue" jazz concert by Bela Szakesi Lakato and Gyory Vukan will be staged at Shanghai Center Theater next weekend.

Versatile virtuoso Vukan graduated from the Ferenc Liszt Academy as a classical pianist at 18. He has been giving concerts for more than 40 years, at first mostly classical and then mostly jazz.

Lakato started playing the piano at the age of nine. He won second prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival where music media honored him as No. 1. He has cooperated with the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra in performing Mozart, playing his own jazz improvisations where Mozart specified improv.

Vukan and Lakato have been performing as duo for more than 30 years.

The Hungarian offerings also include a concert by celebrated folk vocalist Marta Sebestyen, titled "From Pure Sources Only," and operettas and dances by the Budapest Operetta Theater, titled "An Evening with Sissy."

 

"From Pure Sources Only" concert

Date: November 9, 7:15pm

"Piano Dialogue" jazz concert

Date: November 10, 7:15pm

"An Evening with Sissy" operetta songs and dances

Date: November 11, 7:15pm

Venue: Shanghai Center Theater, 1376 Nanjing Rd W.

Tickets: 80-380 yuan

Tel: 6272-1976, 6272-0246, 6272-3797, 6279-8663

"Human Anthem" symphonic ballet

Date: November 15-16, 7:15pm

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Peoples Ave

Tickets: 120-680 yuan

Tel: 6272-1976, 6272-0310

(Shanghai Daily November 3, 2007)