Lively Tyrolean music paired with stunning acrobatics

Urlicht Primal Light brings together the talents of two artistic genres – musicians and acrobats – in a version of “Gustav Mahler goes circus”.

For those who don’t know Urlicht (like me) the words recount a man who feels the pain of life and wants to be in heaven. Mahler’s song dates from 1899 and the title translates roughly as “primeval light”.

On his path, the man encounters an angel who tries to turn him away, but he asks God to grant him a light to guide him on his path to heaven.

This primal light features throughout the performance, sometimes dim, sometimes a spotlight, sometimes as a curtain covering the musicians, or a series of stark lightbulbs.

Franui Musicbanda are a Tyrolean Chamber Ensemble who perform their album in an edited and adapted form on stage, interpreting the “flavours and textures of Mahler” as the programme reads.

Yaron Lifschitz new wave circus performers bring something emotional in their rendering of acrobatics  © Photo credit: Edwin Husic

Franui Musicbanda are a Tyrolean Chamber Ensemble who perform their album in an edited and adapted form on stage, interpreting the “flavours and textures of Mahler” as the programme reads.

Urlicht is part of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, but in the hands of Franui it takes on a whole new life.

The music is both lively and serene, with many instruments from brass, to percussion, to accordion. It’s a mix of classical and contemporary chamber music punctuated by lively folk and jazz.

Meanwhile on stage ten acrobats from circus company Circa interpret the music with a mix of dance, mime, movement and, of course, stunning acrobatics.

This is new wave contemporary circus from Australia, under the direction of Yaron Lifschitz whose troupe last performed in Luxembourg on New Year’s Eve 2023, delighting the audience with jaw-dropping acrobatics to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony performed by the Philharmonie.

In this performance, Circa are joined on stage by ten young local performers of different ages, the smallest of them eliciting a lot of cooing sighs from the audience.

Ten local children perform with Circa on stage © Photo credit: Edwin Husic

In this performance, Circa are joined on stage by ten young local performers of different ages, the smallest of them eliciting a lot of cooing sighs from the audience.

The performers are dressed in big coats, which they variously take off and lie on or under. Sleep is a theme, or perhaps it’s death, but there is a dreamlike quality to the lighting and the washed-out faded costumes, reminiscent of peasant or street urchin attire.

The stage is set with Franui at the back, performing by candlelight at first. The children are on slumped in chairs that are adorned with different coats from a soldier’s uniform to a fur jacket.

Slowly they slide to the floor. Their lifeless bodies are picked up by the ten acrobats, who swing the children above their heads. It’s controlled and beautifully balanced.

Then the acrobats run the gamut of skills from trapeze and rope to raised blocks and hula hoops. They intertwine with each other, moving seamlessly from one acrobatic flip or dive into a pyramid formation. You can see their muscles pulsate, as this extremely physical performance also conjures a powerful emotive experience.

There is something slightly sinister in the tone of the music and the movements, perhaps a nod to past ideas about the circus or carnival. And there are funny moments, for example when the children line up to showcase their talents, curtseying to the audience after each has showcased their cartwheel or backflip.

Urlicht Primal Light is precisely timed and perfectly rendered with not a step out of place. It makes you marvel at what the human body is capable of. A huge amount of concentration goes in to this relentless physicality, and the audience is asked not to clap individual acrobatics, but wait until the end.

On its first night in Luxembourg, the musicians, acrobats, and young performers of Urlicht received a standing ovation. Circa & Franui will perform Urlicht Primal Light again on 8 May at 20:00 at the Grand Theatre Luxembourg.