THE NOCTURNAL LOVE OF CUPID AND PSYCHE

Back in Denmark, with the beautiful project about the danish sculptor Thorvaldsen

From an idea and with the organization of Svenning Hoffmann Sørensen, here we are back in the city of Holstebro, which has invited us once again to perform the piece created last season in this very city — inspired by the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and his muse, the dancer and mime Ida Brun.

"Cupid Awakens Psyche", by Bertel Thorvaldsen

The new tableau we have imagined draws inspiration from the famous sculptures depicting the myth of the love between Cupid and Psyche — a love both nocturnal and blind.Cupid, god of love, forbade Psyche to look upon his face; he would visit her only under cover of night. Thus Psyche lived peacefully in darkness, beside her mysterious husband, to whom she had sworn never to try to behold him.

But little by little, curiosity overtook her. Her two sisters, consumed by jealousy, had convinced her that her lover was none other than a monster. One night, overcome by doubt, Psyche took a lamp and shone its light upon Cupid’s sleeping face. Dazzled by his beauty, she let fall a drop of burning oil onto his shoulder.

Cupid awoke with a start and, in fury, flew away.

“Too credulous Psyche,” he said, “for you I defied my mother’s commands. Instead of degrading you, as she wished, in a shameful passion and an unworthy marriage, I offered myself to you as a lover. I, the unerring archer, wounded myself with one of my own arrows and chose you as my wife. And now you take me for a monster! I have done everything to awaken your prudence; my tenderness gave you warnings. But soon I shall punish your treacherous advisers and their fatal counsel. As for you, I shall punish you by fleeing from you.”

At these words, he soared into the sky like a bird.

Desperate, Psyche wandered endlessly in search of her beloved, but she could never find him. When Cupid’s wound was finally healed, he found Psyche lying in a deep sleep. Moved, he revived her gently by pricking her with one of his arrows.

With Zeus’s consent, Cupid then brought his wife to Olympus, where she was given to drink the nectar and ambrosia. Thus Psyche became immortal, and at last was united with her god for all eternity.

"Cupid and Psyche", by Thorvaldsen.

And so, we find ourselves face to face with this extraordinary myth, which has inspired countless artists — among them the sculptor Canova, with his magnificent Cupid and Psyche, which can be admired at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

"Cupid and Psyche", by Canova

To bring this myth to life through dance and pantomime, we first chose the music — a decision that came quite naturally: Debussy’s “La Terrasse des audiences au clair de lune” proved to be a perfect fit. A mysterious piece, like a night faintly bathed in moonlight, filled with romantic encounters.

But how could we express the idea that Psyche was unable to see Cupid? We chose a simple visual device: a veil covering her face… until the moment when curiosity compels her to lift it and finally gaze upon her husband.

Excerpt from the rehearsal of the tableau “Cupid and Psyche.” At the piano: the Argentine musician Fernando Viani, with his magnificent touch.

A little nod to Canova, of course, was not to be missed! 😉

This year brought some exciting new things to the city of Holstebro.First, the beautiful luminous spiral imagined by Danish artist Karoline H. Larsen, created to celebrate Holstebro’s 750th anniversary.

It stood right within our performance and rehearsal space — a true delight for the eyes!

But above all, it was the arrival of the wonderful Japanese violinist Machiko Ozawa that completed the artistic team for this third season in Holstebro!

The pianist Fernando Viani, the bandoneon player Simone Tolomeo, the violinist Machiko Ozawa, and the two of us — for the choreography and performance.

We send our warmest greetings to all our readers from Holstebro, hoping to live yet another adventure in this beautiful Danish city!