Kurt Jooss: Note on the ballet Chronica (1939)
Kurt Jooss: Note on the ballet Chronica (1939)
Ich bin ein ungebogener Stückeschreiber. Ich denke in Theater, und da kann man das Denken nicht beiseite schieben. Ich brauche Libretti, die griffig und packend sind, und ich brauche das Wissen um das Umsetzen der Dramaturgie eines Librettos in Bewegung und Emotionen.
[I am an unbending playwright. I think in theatrical terms and such thinking cannot be put to one side. I need libretti that are gripping and exciting and I need the knowledge of how to stage the drama of a libretto in movement and emotions. (ed. trans.)]
Kurt Jooss quoted in Susanne Schlicher, Tanztheater [Dance Theatre], 1987
Chronica was written in exile in England in spring 1939 and fits in with many of the works of choreographer Kurt Jooss in its examination of power and sovereignty structures. As early as 1932, Jooss had proven himself to be an opponent of war with his work Der Grüne Tisch [The Green Table] in which he depicted the confrontation of the individual with the ruling system.
Chronica is set in Italy in the 15th century and makes no apparent references to the dictatorships of the time. However, contemporary critics were unanimously of the opinion that Chronica should be understood as a critique of Nazi Germany.
Fortunato, the tyrant of the work, learns the error of his ways during the action and sacrifices himself to prevent further catastrophe. While Jooss was showing a tyrant who was capable of redemption on stage in England, the events of World War II contradicted this hope.
The ballet was very well received by the British press. In spite of its success it only remained in the repertoire until 1942.
This page of dance notations was written by Jooss in the English manor house at Dartington Hall, which was made available as a residence and dance rehearsal space by a patron for Jooss and his company.
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