Even the Mountains Move

The sun, moon, stars, sky and earth bore signs of war, suffering and plague. — Guillaume de Machaut, 1349

In the 14th century, the Black Death killed almost half of Europe’s population. There was no cure. From the safe distance of seven centuries, it may seem that time heals all wounds, but at the time things looked different. One of the survivors was the famous French composer and poet Guillaume de Machaut. His music is at once beautiful and complex, unfamiliar and familiar. The contrast between the collapse of society and Machaut’s uplifting work is striking.

In the duet “Even the Mountains Move”, Roosna and Flak explore the magic of the everyday. In every moment there is an immense space containing entire worlds and stories from the nearer and more distant past. Stories that can support and comfort us in dark times: that life has always found a way, even when all hope has been lost. That we are survivors. That treasures can be found inside a broken jewellery box. That a woollen sock can take us back to our grandmother’s sofa. That a composer who died long ago can speak about what it means to be alive.

Külli Roosna and Kenneth Flak’s new production is created in collaboration with Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava and Endla Theatre.

Direction, choreography and performance: Külli Roosna and Kenneth Flak
Music: Kenneth Flak in collaboration with Külli Roosna
Video and sensor programming: Kenneth Flak
Text: Külli Roosna, Kenneth Flak, Guillaume de Machaut
Costume design: Ursula Goldstein
Lighting design: Ivar Piterskihh
Dramaturgical advice: Leonora Palu