Trilogie des Hoffens. - Staatstheater am Gartnerplatz, Munich, Germany - dance reviews

Dance Magazine, March, 1997 by Inge Zurner

Philip Taylor, new ballet director of the Gartnerplatz Theater, titled his first program Trilogie des Hoffens ("Trilogy of Hope"). The first part, "Seeds of Hope," is set to concerti gross) by Handel; "Quiet Strength," the second part, to the piano concerto of the same title by Kelvin Grout; and the concluding "Breath Bandits-Hope's Fear" to John Adams's Fearful Symmetries (a questionable choice seeing that Peter Martins's choreography of the Adams score is a hit in the current repertory of Bavarian National Ballet, almost next door).

As it happens, the diversity of the music characterizes the three sections more than the choreographic structure does. With a background at London Contemporary Dance Theatre and Netherlands Dance Theater (the latter for ten years), Taylor is proficient in the use of a none-too-novel modern dance idiom strongly based on ballet technique, as well as athletic speed and floor gymnastics, to create duly attractive, fluent sequences. The movement is expressive of moods, though not of any of the high-sounding thoughts printed in the program.

The company, young and in excellent shape, danced with verve and athletic prowess.