Magnificat

Polish director Marta Górnicka conducts a chorus of women who have set forth to declare war on traditional perceptions of women. The Virgin Mary, icon of love, strength, devotion but also of knowledge, emblem of the view of femininity propagated by Catholicism, is the subject of “Magnificat”. Texts by Elfriede Jelinek, Adam Mickiewicz and Euripides come up against cooking recipes and the women’s collective movements on stage. A choreography of rebellion emerges, a fresh and still vital breaking open of stereotypes and clichés that women’s biographies are still beset with – not only in Poland, where this production comes from. Newspaper quotes, rhythmic language and sacred music make up the soundtrack of this by no means tragic choir. Maybe it is the mere power of finding a distinctive voice, of talking in unison and making oneself heard: This radical aesthetic choice produces a performance of both poetic and political power. This is the second time that Marta Górnicka has worked with a chorus of women – and for the second time she has not failed to make an impact!