Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe
Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe (1995, Eine) is a performer and director of operatic and visual performances. In his work, he builds on the fundaments of classical repertoire together with a queer cast. He challenges performers to cross borders. Dancers sing and singers move. This puts musical perfection and virtuosity into question. As he says himself, the theater is an echo chamber / time machine in which old and new times can be brought together. In 2021 Benjamin showed A Revue, a retro-futuristic cabaret where aliens dig old artefacts up and present them in a new context. The piece was selected for the Theaterfestival 2021.
In addition to his directing work, he is also a performer and self-taught countertenor. Recently, he created with Laurens Mariën the ritual concert Spectacles. Together with dancer Hanako Hayakawa, he makes the concert a theatrical experience again. In September 2021, the MOMU exhibition E/MOTION opened to which Meirhaeghe gave a performative character together with Heleen van Haeghenborg. Meirhaeghe also performed as the opening act of Berlin Fashion Week.
MADRIGALS will premiere in January 2022. Composer Jesse Kanda, well known by his collaborations with FKA Twigs, Arca, and Björk recomposes Monteverdi's 8th book. Trained dancers will perform the music of madrigals without classical training.
Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe works very closely with writer Louise van den Eede, who has taken on research, dramaturgy and text in his past projects.
BENJAMIN ABEL MEIRHAEGHE
MADRIGALEN
ft. Jesse Kanda
21 JANUARI 2022 DESINGEL
What inspired you to get into the arts/performance and did you have any influential role models (if so, who?)
“At an early age, I was touched by Salvador Dali and Gala. I was also very interested in puppetry and built scenographics in the garage. When I was 15 years old I got to know contemporary performance makers like Ivo Dimchev, Florentina Holzinger, Vincent Riebeek, Castellucci, Anohni, Farinelli, etc. These makers had an important influence on my development as an artist.”
What is your creative process and what are the most important things you keep in mind when beginning a new project? Are there any recurring themes/issues you like to address within your work?
“When I have an idea, I start to discuss the concept with writer Louise van den Eede. She is an important researcher in my work. Together we write a substantive hold, a document that I can use during the rehearsals to guide me.
I like the idea of 'origin', but at the same time, I am remarkably curious about the idea of 'future', about evolutions and even revolutions to come. Without wishing to oppose the preservation of the existing repertoire, I find it a great challenge to combine classical fragments with new symbols, sounds in a radically unique scenography. I make mysterious and contemporary rituals that can reconnect with the life I know, with real emotions, with our experiences and the political thinking of today.”
A REVUE - an Opera by Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe, produced by d e t h e a t e r m a k e r
You recently released the dreamy/other-worldly album ‘Spectacles’, what was the inspiration behind it?
“I had the desire to create a theatrical music show, a bombastic spectacle and a sectarian love ritual. We made this show in a period I suffered in love. The album is irresistibly linked to performance. Our style is operatic dada-blues-punk-pop songs. We focus on diverse atmospheres ranging from dark beats, unprecedented vocal heights, horny sax parts and strange operatic allures. Armed with star-dancer Hanako Hayakawa, a strange monolith made by visual artist Elissa Lacoste, a poppy campfire and a lot of smoke, I and my compagnon de route Laurens Mariën want to merge the theatre-and-concert hall. It is therefore with the support of both music and theatre that this project came about during the epidemic. We made an unique combination of co-producers: Ancienne Belgique, Vooruit, Stuk, de Studio, Pilar, Muziektheater Transparant and detheatermaker. Jasper Segers produced the record, Lander Gyselinck, David Numwami, Mattias de Craene acted as recording musicians, Louise van den Eede gave dramaturgical advice.”
