Tarik O’Regan's Mata Hari - World Premiere: February 6
5th January 2016
Mata Hari was born to a well-to-do Frisian family in 1876 as Margaretha Zelle. Following an unhappy marriage spent largely on the Indonesian island of Java in what was then the Dutch East Indies, Zelle went to seek adventure in Paris. There she posed as a Javanese princess, reinventing herself as Mata Hari, and became one of the most famous dancers and entertainers of her day. As she travelled throughout Europe, she developed relationships with high-ranking military officers, politicians, and others in influential positions. Because the Netherlands remained neutral during World War 1, Mata Hari’s Dutch nationality allowed her to cross international borders freely. She was accused – rightly or wrongly – of being a double agent, and she died in front of a French firing squad in 1917.
Tarik O'Regan says:
I'm extremely excited Mata Hari is coming to fruition soon, and that the public will be able to see what we've all been up to these past few years! It's been an incredible collaboration to work on such a large-scale project with so many immensely talented creative partners. The story of Margaretha Zelle (Mata Hari) as we tell it here is both an exciting and nuanced one. We've worked hard to create a fast-paced, compelling narrative that goes beyond the more familiar femme fatale image, which has existed since Greta Garbo portrayed her on film in 1931. Mata Hari's life - joyous and tragic; bombastic and intimate - truly was like no other's.
Mata Hari is O’Regan’s first full-length ballet and follows the success of an earlier collaboration with Ted Brandsen and DNB based on O’Regan’s Raï in 2012. In 2014 his Scattered Rhymes was choreographed by Rafael Bonachela in Sydney Dance Company’s Louder than Words.
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Perfromances
Mata Hari
Dutch National Ballet, Amsterdam | February 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26
Commissioned by the Dutch National Ballet Music Tarik O’Regan
Choreography Ted Brandsen
Libretto Janine Brogt
Scenography and light design Clement & Sanôu
Costumes Francois-Noël Cherpin
Dutch Ballet Orchestra | Conductor Matthew Rowe
Other forthcoming performances include the US premiere of A Letter of Rights by the choir of Trinity Wall Street, as well as new works for Conspirare and the Alexander String Quartet. An album of his orchestral music will be released on NMC Recordings in 2016.
Book tickets to see Mata Hari here
