The Köln Concert

Trajal Harrell has gained global recognition as a choreographer whose artistry is equally at home on an opera house stage or a ballroom floor. From New York’s avant-garde scene to his current home of Switzerland, Harrell has skillfully deconstructed the distinct dance styles of voguing, butoh, modern, and postmodern dance, injecting them with his remarkable blend of humor and poignancy. Harrell’s latest dance piece is at once a continuation and reimagining of his practice, set to jazz pianist Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert. Making his BAM debut, Harrell performs alongside six members of his recently assembled Schauspielhaus Zürich Dance Ensemble, using his signature form of the catwalk. The precise movements and deep feeling of this international cast find fragility and tenderness in Jarrett’s canonical piece and the compositions of another musical genius: Joni Mitchell. Harrell, a powerhouse performer, begins the evening by dancing solo to signature songs by the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter. Mitchell’s music sets the stage for a transcendent, heart-stirring work.