Ombra

'With Ombra, Alain Platel seems to draw up the account of a life: the life and death of a tree, that of Gerard Mortier and, as well, his own life and work. He does it virtuosically, with powerful imagery between despair and mildness.'

'With the final notes, the light slowly goes out. The ever busy gesticulating Mortier would certainly have become silent himself at such beauty.'

'Alain Platel manages to make 30 choristers, 12 dancers and a giant tree 12m high and 8m wide into a vibrant spectacle full of sex, joie de vivre and fear of losing it all. Jealous you go home after Ombra.'

'Art that moves you to tears, is rare. But the opening of Alain Platel's Ombra, hits that sweet spot.'

'The dancers here reveal themselves literally and figuratively in a way that shows a deep confidence in the work. That alone makes this work, this synthesis of all that Platel stands for, an impressive achievement.'

'Ombra, Alain Platel's magnificent gift of emotion'.

'Perhaps less political than profoundly existential, this new creation by Platel illustrates the humanism that united the two men and their shared idea that art, music, singing and dance are all ways of reflecting on the state of the world and healing its wounds.'

'Ombra a performance with an untangible dimension. An encounter between singers, dancers and musicians, each with their own background, and also between composers from different periods. Performers who each excel in their respective fields. The audience was overwhelmed and delighted, paying homage in prolonged applause to the creativity and empathy of the entire cast and also to Alain Platel's soul mate: the great Gerard Mortier.'

Berlinde De Bruyckere's tree impresses even before one note has been played, before one dance step has been taken.

Announcement - exhibition of the tree from Ombra

Two-tonne artwork by Berlinde De Bruyckere steals the show in dance performance by Alain Platel.