‘Sad Sam’ sounds English. So is Matthäus a ‘sad Samuel’? Yes and no. In Croatian, Matija Ferlin’s mother tongue, ‘sad sam’ means: Now I am. The eponymous series of works combines elements of cultural history with autobiographical references, and fiction with facts. For his new piece entitled Sad Sam Matthäus, Ferlin has inscribed himself into Johann Sebastian Bach’s St Matthew Passion. After all, Matija is somehow cognate with Matthew. The performer and choreographer takes up the challenge of enabling an encounter between his own body and the formidable oratorio with a run time of more than 150 minutes. Between a 21st century individual and a highlight of Protestant sacred music. Ferlin’s precise vocabulary of movement pushes the double meaning of the word ‘passion’ to its limits. Between pain and passion: a challenging evening of simple beauty.

- Artistic Team
By and with Matija Ferlin Dramaturgy Goran Ferčec With music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244 Stage, Props Mauricio Ferlin Sound Luka Prinčič Lights, Technical Direction Saša Fistrić Costume Desa Janković, Matija Ferlin Direction Assistance Rajna Racz Production Management Maja Delak Production Assitant Sabrina Železnik Executive Producer Silvija Stipanov
- Production
Production Emanat (Ljubljana) Coproduction Wiener Festwochen, CND Centre national de la danse (Pantin) Partner Istarsko narodno kazalište – Gradsko kazalište Pula, Mediteranski plesni centar Svetvinčenat, Bunker / Stara mestna Elektrarna – Elektro Ljubljana With the support of Zagrebačko kazalište mladih Financial support Ministrstvo za kulturo (Slowenia), Mestna občina Ljubljana, Grad Pula
Premiere 2021