THREE STEPS AND A BRIDGE

A subtle dramatic adaptation in german language set to the timeless sounds of the Baroque

Martin PLODERER (narrator), Dominik HELLSBERG (violin)

The project ‘Three Steps and a Bridge’ brings excerpts from the monumental work ‘The Dialogue on Divine Providence’ by the mystic Catherine of Siena to the stage. This extraordinary woman lived more than Protected content ago; despite being illiterate and dying young at the age of just 33, she left behind a profound literary and theological legacy by dictating her visions. She was an intrepid figure of her time who did not shy away from taking a critical stance towards both secular and ecclesiastical rulers – right up to the Pope – and calling for reform of the Church. Her words, which describe the path of the Creator’s unconditional love for his creatures, possess a linguistic and spiritual intensity that is unrivalled in world literature. The path, according to the metaphor, leads right through the human heart.

In this production, the powerful, historical texts, read by Martin Ploderer, blend with the timeless sounds of the Baroque in a subtle dramaturgical adaptation by director Karl Baratta. Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterful solo works for violin, performed by Dominik Hellsberg, enter into a virtuosic dialogue with the spoken passages, creating a contemplative space that allows today’s audience to experience the existential depth of Katharina’s inner world first-hand.