“Throughout my life, I have never known a moment of uncertainty as to what Bach's most moving composition is. Without any doubt the St Matthew Passion. Neither in length, nor in moving force is there anything that can be compared to it.”
Maarten ‘t Hart
Valentijn Dhaenens and Sara Salvérius perform a brutal, contemporary interpretation of the St Matthew Passion, Johann Sebastian Bach's masterpiece. Through their voice and accordion they channel the confused and mournful voices of the choir in the Passion. The people speaking in it do not understand what is happening around them. A sense of helplessness prevails, though they are many. They contemplate, they ask questions, but remain devoid of answers, do not intervene and begin to look acutely like our present selves.
This central role for the people's polyphony in Brute Passion is in line with Valentijn's previous performances such as BigMouth, SmallWar and The Van Paemel Family, in each of which he embodies and gives voice to a multitude of characters as a solitary figure.
Brute Passion is a modern contemplation on suffering with its roots in an ancient tradition. Can an ancient masterpiece communicate with us about the situation we find ourselves in today?
Sara and Valentijn got to know each other during the creation of The Van Paemel Family (2021). They share a fascination for suffering as a theme in music and as a phenomenon throughout (art) history as well as in the world today and in their personal lives. Together, they seek their own way through the Passion's ordeal with a silent hope for insight and connection.
Creation: Sara Salvérius (accordion & acting), Valentijn Dhaenens (concept & acting) and Chloé Wasselin Dandre (scenography & costume design)
Internship: Sien Wils
Direction Assistance & Dramaturgy: Tineke De Meyer
Technical direction & light design: Eric Engels
Business direction and coordination: Korneel Hamers
Distribution and tour planning: Thassos
Press kit: Elisa Demarré
Promotional image: Friek Janssens
Production: SKaGeN & The Studio, PerPodium
With the support of: The Flemish Community and Tax Shelter
playlist
| Thu | 20/03/2025 - 20u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Fri | 21/03/2025 - 20u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Sat | 22/03/2025 - 20u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Sun | 23/03/2025 - 20u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Wed | 26/03/2025 - 20u30 | Hoeilaart | |
| Fri | 28/03/2025 - 20u00 | Cultuurcentrum Evergem | |
| Thu | 03/04/2025 - 20u30 | CC Strombeek | |
| Fri | 04/04/2025 | Oudenaarde | |
| Sat | 05/04/2025 - 20u30 | CC Gildhof Tielt (Malpertuis) | |
| Wed | 23/04/2025 - 20u30 | KVS Brussel | |
| Thu | 24/04/2025 - 20u15 | Cultuurhuis De Warande Turnhout | |
| Fri | 25/04/2025 - 20u00 | OC 't Waaigat Zwijndrecht | |
| Fri | 23/05/2025 - 20u30 | Chassé Theater Breda (NL) | |
| Wed | 15/10/2025 | De Velinx Tongeren | |
| Fri | 17/10/2025 | CC Mechelen | |
| Fri | 23/01/2026 | Schouwburg Noord Merksem | |
| Sat | 04/04/2026 | Leietheater | |
| Mon | 06/04/2026 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Tue | 07/04/2026 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Wed | 08/04/2026 | CC Hasselt | |
| Thu | 09/04/2026 | Compagnie Celia Gent |
