Producer Jamie xx has created a score for a contemporary ballet piece inspired by Jonathan Sanfran Foer’s book, Tree of Codes, set to premiere at the Manchester International Festival next year.
Foer’s novel takes Bruno Schultz’s collection of short stories Street of Crocodiles and reinvents it as an entirely new narrative altogether.
Those unfamiliar with Jamie xx’s work will know him better as the genius beatsmith of Mercury Prize winning British band The xx. He is also a solo producer and DJ in his own right, and has collaborated with the likes of visual artist Quayola, Four Tet and Gil Scott-Heron in the past.
The project will also involve critically acclaimed Icelandic visual artist Olafur Eliasson (who you might know as the creator of the giant sun that was installed in the Tate Modern), Wayne McGregor as choreographer and various dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet and McGregor’s Random Dance Company.
McGregor believes that the novel is a “powerful point for departure for [the] collaboration on stage – where constellations of light, shadows, bodies, objects and sound dance at the edges of darkness”.
The score composed by Jamie xx will be thoroughly contemporary. “Clearly Jamie’s music can’t live without movement and space. Clearly Wayne’s choreography can’t live without sound and space. Clearly my art can’t live without sound and movement. Clearly creativity can change the world.” Eliasson said.
Tree of Codes will be performed at Manchester International Festival from July 2th – 10th next year at the Manchester Opera House.
For now, watch Jamie xx’s video for Sleep Sound.
Featured photo courtesy of Rene Passet via Flickr