The charm of East and West on one stage, with the play ‘Mozart in Egypt’ at the San Gabriel Theater in Quito

In 1997, French musician and arranger Hughes de Courson took several works from Mozart and decided to combine it with oriental rhythmswith the help of more than 150 artists from East and West. This is how his recording project was born Mozart in Egypt (Mozart l’Egyptien, 1998)which is the basic inspiration for a musical theater work of the same name created by the Harim Ecuadorian Arabic dance companydirected by Susana Guevara and Damiana Levy.

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The piece, which incorporates classical ballet, belly dance, contemporary dance, audiovisuals and dramaturgy, has been performed more than once, in Quito and Cuenca. His most recent presentation is this Saturday, April 29 at 8:30 p.m. at the San Gabriel Theater in the capital.

“It assumes one beautiful fusion of West and East that leads us to believe that this work has been interpreted with dance and theatre”, explains director Levy, who says that the work is about a love story set in the Egypt of the caliphs. The concept arose, the artist illustrates, after 10 years of research and fascination with Egyptian culture.

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“It is not surprising that we Latin Americans like it very much (influences like this). It flows through our blood, not only what we have in Spanish, which is part of our ancestors, but also what is Arabic… We have a lot of information about the origin of the Arab culture, it vibrates in our blood, and that’s why we have a willingness to love these melodies… When I found this fusion I said ‘this needs to be brought to the stage’ and we brought it to life I would say with great success as there there have been no negative comments, on the contrary.”

The work puts 60 dancers on stage who require about 144 pieces between costumes and accessories, collected by Levy herself during her travels in eastern lands. In the stellar roles is Sebastián Díaz Garrido, as sultan; Andrés Barzola is Amir; and Tania Diaz as Leyla.

They are all dancers with an extensive artistic career, the director assures. Días is now the director and répétiteur of the ballet Humanizarte, which has been dedicated to ethnic contemporary dance for more than 30 years. Barzola is an independent contemporary dance artist from Guayaquil. Díaz is the company’s prima ballerina, who has been training since she was 8 years old, now she is 25.

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This feature, which lasts an hour and ten minutes, is meant to be enjoyed as a family, assures the mentalist, as it can be assimilated on several levels. “It has different readings and that’s why we said we invite the whole family. Children will be attracted to it because it is a very aesthetic work, because of the costumes, lighting by Santiago Vergara. In addition to the visual, there is a sensory play with scents within the work. It is a true gift for the senses. For the most sensitive of eyes, there are several dynamics that you will notice in the sultan’s harem…”

Tickets for Mozart in Egypt are available for two prices, $35 and $25, for sale on the theater’s website, as well as at the site’s box office.