The legendary Twyla Tharp celebrates her 60th anniversary as a choreographer with a coast-to-coast diamond jubilee tour that includes two performances at the Harris Theater. Each performance features Tharp’s Diabelli Variations, set to Beethoven’s masterpiece of the same name, and a new work set to a reimagining of Philip Glass’s iconic Aguas da Amazônia, arranged and performed live by Chicago’s own Third Coast Percussion. Showcasing Tharp’s uncanny and witty use of music to create work of startling originality and beauty, the two dances once again ensure Tharp’s place as one of the great artists of our time.
Daring to take on the intensely demanding and demonically complex Diabelli Variations, Tharp makes visible the elegant humor and depth of Beethoven's layered genius. Each of the composition’s 33 variations is unique in mood and texture, and Tharp’s response — tender, teasing, transcendent, and cheeky — commands all of the performers’ technical prowess and energy as they shift effortlessly from ballet to jazz to modern, with unexpected bits of social and street dance added in for good measure.
Glass’s Aguas da Amazônia, which has been newly arranged by Third Coast Percussion in close collaboration with Tharp, will be performed by the ensemble on a unique collection of custom-designed percussion instruments. Chicago-based musician Constance Volk will perform live on flute alongside Third Coast Percussion.
This groundbreaking evening is sure to dazzle audiences with its stellar dancing and phenomenal musicianship.
