Herrumbre, the dance production by Nacho Duato, director of La Compañía Nacional de Danza, does not fail to make an impact on spectators. The talented artist has presented two works at the Gran Teatre del Liceu of Barcelona which are full of emotion, impressive choreography, mixing classic movements with less conventional elements, set against a minimalist stage decoration and bold a musical accompaniment.

The first part of the performance, entitled L’Homme, is a complex choreography that, according to Duato, represents the “ephemeral nature of existence.” The music that accompanies the performance is a selection of works for piano by György Kurtág, who for the first time ever gave permission for his music to be used in a ballet.

The centerpiece and namesake of the performance is Herrumbre, a reflection on torture through a series of encounters between victim and torturer that unfold at an intense and unsettling rhythm. The music is a key element used to make the spectator feel uneasy. Duato chose solos for the electric cello to be played by David Darling during the slower moments and compositions by Pedro Alcalde and Sergio Caballero that incorporate metallic tones, crashes, and the sounds of prisons, giving the music an element of realism.

With each of these components, the show brims with intensity, credibility, etc. The intention of the director was to compare humans to metal when their souls rust. He considers torture unjustified and incomprehensible, and created this choreography to denounce it. He wants us to reflect on the issue. So, let us do so.