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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist, Jan-Erik Wikström, Minji Nam, Olof Westring and Rebecca Rasmussen (Soprano)
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist and Jan-Erik Wikström
Photograph by Alexander Kenney, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Alexander Kenney, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Carl Thorborg, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist, Jan-Erik Wikström, Minji Nam, and Olof Westring
Photograph by Carl Thorborg, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Carl Thorborg, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist, Jan-Erik Wikström, Minji Nam,and Olof Westring
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Carl Thorborg, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist and Jan-Erik Wikström
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist and Jan-Erik Wikström
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist and Jan-Erik Wikström
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Jan-Erik Wikström and Olof Westring
Photograph by Alexander Kenney, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam, Olof Westring and Karin Andersson (Soprano)
Photograph by Alexander Kenney, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Alexander Kenney, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist and Jeanette Ekornåsvåg (Mezzosoprano)
Photograph by Alexander Kenney, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Marie Lindqvist and Jan-Erik Wikström
Photograph by Carl Thorborg, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Jan-Erik Wikström and Olof Westring
Photograph by Carl Thorborg, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Carl Thorborg, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Olof Westring
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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quondam - Royal Swedish Ballet
Minji Nam and Olof Westring
Photograph by Hans Nilsson, Courtesy of the Royal Swedish Ballet
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Maggie Foyer, Dance Europe, January 2009:
Canadian Sabrina Matthews’ quondam, an intriguing and sensitive work for four dancers and two on-stage singers to Pergolesi’s haunting Stabat Mater, completed the evening. The balance of soprano and mezzo voices was echoed by the dancers; the clarity and vitality of Minji Nam’s technique gave an edge to Marie Lindqvist’s serene presence, creating a beautiful blending of strengths. The two men, despite less than flattering costumes, gave fine interpretation of Matthews’ choreography, strong on classical form but fresh and original. The well-balanced programme of premieres proved a promising debut for new director Marc Ribaud. With new additions to the ranks, the company looked stronger and more exciting than they have for some time.
Lena Andrén, Theater News, November 10, 2008:
A playful Mats Ek, one of the biggest choreographers on the international dance scene, Nils Christe, and the new acquaintance Sabrina Matthews leave a nice optimistic feeling in the Royal Ballet autumn program.
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Marie Lindqvist and Jan Erik Wikström interpret Sabrina Matthews´ quondam with a presence and subtlety to translate the elevated tones of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater which a contemporary person can relate to. Soprano Erna Rebecca Rasmussen and Jeanette Ekornåsvåg have a nice presence…
The three pieces leave a nice optimistic feeling and I can only hope the new ballet boss Marc Ribaud good luck!
Gunilla Jensen, Swedish Daily Paper, November 10 2008:
Triple abstract pieces for the Royal Ballet.
Dancers and audience meet three big composers and three active choreographers…
Canadian Sabrina Matthews is an entire new acquaintance for Sweden. Her motion language is emotional, if not romantic, in a style that is grown by several Canadian choreographers, including Karen Kain. Matthews has chosen Pergolesis´ loaded Stabat Mater as a springboard for a scenic sextet, consisting of four dancers and two vocal soloists. With simple means she creates a changing room where time and memories shift in line with the screens and cones of light that change switching positions…
Örjan Abrahamsson, In Town (Påstan), November 9, 2008:
The Royal Swedish Ballets´ lavish triple program "Christe, Matthews, Ek" is one of the funniest in many years. Superb dancers cause the audience to rejoice. And already the music itself is worth the ticket.
…even the best triple program in many years. The Royal Ballet shows enpointe in a lavish dance triple: three new works, all danced with orchestra, in addition to three soloists. Already the music is worth the ticket. Soprano Rebecca Rasmussen and mezzosoprano Jeanette Ekornåsvåg make a poignant interpretation of Pergolesis´ Stabat Mater, and are on stage along with the two dance pairs in Sabrina Matthews´ choreography "quondam."
Also this is an exercise in style in the higher, but more stationary school for connoisseurs. Veterans, Marie Lindqvist, Jan-Erik Wikström and Olof Westring shone, but core member, Minji Nam was most impressive. So much air under her wings.
Helena Strängberg, Tindningen Kulturen November 30, 2008:
Quondam means "former" in latin and is the name of Sabrina Matthews’ work. It is about releasing memories and came to Matthews after listening to the music from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. Matthews quickly realized the importance of live music in ballet, and chose to place the two soloists on the stage, along with the dancers.
The almost naked stage is framed nicely by soloists Karin Andersson and Astrid Robillard, and they do such a good job that all to often we look at them. It is a shame, because Matthews’ BELL-RINGING choreography and the dancers do a fantastic job. Veterans Jan-Erik Wikström and Marie Lindqvist are wonderful together, they seem to almost have a sixth sense to perceive each other’s presence. Their phenomenal expression shows why ballet can still be current, even for us who are stuck in the modern dance approach.
