Leipzig Ballet under the direction of Mario Schröder reconstructed Uwe Scholz’s 1992 choreography Pax Questuosa – Klagender Friede. Scholz's ballet looks at the socio-political situation in the world and in reunified Germany post-Cold War. With its authentic, artistic means of expression, contemporary music by Prof. Udo Zimmermann and a choreographic idiom that would be developed in Scholz's later work, Pax Questuosa is considered to be one of the choreographer’s key pieces.
Twenty-one years later, Schröder added a second part (Blühende Landschaft / Flourishing Landscape) to the reconstructed version of the original ballet. The new section conveyed Scholz's research and indictment of the globalised 21st century.
Mario Schröder
Born in Finsterwalde, Mario trained in dance at the Palucca School Dresden. He was a first soloist at Leipzig Ballet from 1983 to 1999 – from 1991 under the direction of Uwe Scholz. He also studied choreography at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1999, he was appointed ballet director and head choreographer at the Mainfranken Theater Würzburg before taking on the same role at Theater Kiel in 2001. Schröder has created more than 70 choreographies and has worked as a dancer and choreographer in Japan, USA, Russia, Mongolia, France and other European countries. In Germany, his works have been performed at the Deutsche Oper and Komische Oper in Berlin, at the Aalto Ballett Theater Essen and Leipzig Opera. He has worked as a choreographer with Ruth Berghaus, Maxim Dessau, Nikolaus Lehnhoff, Dietmar Seyffert, Thilo Reinhardt and Uwe Scholz. He is a member of the executive committee of Germany’s Ballet and Dance Theatre Directors’ Conference (BBTK). He has been ballet director and head choreographer at Leipzig Ballet since the 2010/11 season.
The choreologist talks about the importance of notation in passing on choreographic material, as well as about her role in the new staging of Pax Questuosa.
Tatjana Thierbach
Tatjana trained in dance at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart where she discovered her interest in Benesh notation. After completing her Abitur (secondary school leaving examination), she studied at the Benesh Institute in London and graduated as an Associate of the Institute of Choreology. She worked under Uwe Scholz at Leipzig Ballet from 1993, notating and teaching many of his works. In 1997, she was entrusted by Scholz to teach his choreographies to internationally established ballet companies, e.g. in Zurich, Peking and Rio de Janeiro. A freelancer since 2001, she continues to supervise the teaching of Scholz’s choreographies around the world.
PAX 2013
Two-part ballet evening by Mario Schröder and Uwe Scholz
Musical director – Anthony Bramall
Choreography – Mario Schröder and Uwe Scholz
Chorus rehearsal director – Alesandro Zuppardo
Stage, costume, video – Uwe Scholz, Andreas Auerbach and Paul Zoller
Dramaturgy – Patrick Primavesi
Cast – Leipzig Ballet, the Gewandhaus Orchestra and vocal soloists
