MEDIATHEK

Bilitis is a music theatre performance by Revue Blanche (soprano, flute, viola and harp) and Frauke Mariën (dance) based on the poems ‘Chansons de Bilitis’ by Pierre Louÿs.
 
 At the moment of publishing Louÿs pretended these sensual (and sometimes erotic) texts were a translation of an ancient Greek book. This delusion was so successful that almost everyone believed it. The last chapter of the book which is called ‘Secret Songs’ was self-censored by Pierre Louÿs, fearing that the whole book would otherwise be taken out of trade by narrow-minded authorities.
 
 These ‘Secret Songs’ inspired the Belgian composer Wim Henderickx to write a cycle of songs and instrumental/vocal solo’s that dialogue with Debussy’s famous ‘Chansons de Bilitis’ and ‘Six Epigraphes Antiques’, both also based on Louÿs texts.
 
 The musicians of Revue Blanche perform this music in interaction with dancer Frauke Mariën. Following the three episodes of the book, she portrays the naïve youth and nascent sexuality of Bilitis who later becomes a courtesan disappointed by love and eventually retrieving dignity in solitude.
 
 Louÿs deception is recreated by using semi-transparent panels that hide or reveal the performers depending on light and positions, creating a contemporary yet dreamy atmosphere. The use of life video creates different points of view, confusing the public even about what is real.