Inspired by Dante’s exile and his condemnation at the Bargello in Florence, the work explores how artistic freedom can survive censorship, displacement, and political oppression. As Dante wandered through his own inferno in search of light, this performance follows his path — from descent to resistance, and ultimately to transcendence — through music, movement, and poetry.

“I was moved by Dante’s life and his political struggles after being sentenced to death in Florence. His artworks raise profound questions about political and religious issues in the 14th century, which strongly resonate with the challenges our world faces in the 21st century. Dante, a true protagonist, creates a bridge between himself and contemporary artists across the globe.” explains Burak Özdemir

The program blends Italian Renaissance and early Baroque masterpieces with choreographed movement, performed by dancers from Sasha Waltz & Guests. At its core are ten musicians of Musica Sequenza, joined by a countertenor, who also embodies Dante’s voice through spoken word. The ensemble performs without a conductor, creating a chamber format that is intimate yet theatrically charged.

The musical selection includes dramatic and extraordinary works by Italian composers such as Francesco Cavalli, Marco da Gagliano, Carlo Gesualdo, Sigismondo d’India, Andrea Falconieri, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Benedetto Ferrari, Claudio Monteverdi, and Stefano Landi, interwoven with fragments from Dante’s Inferno. The dramaturgy unfolds in three chapters: Descent, Confrontation, and Light.

As a Turkish artist living in exile, Özdemir connects Dante’s story with contemporary struggles for freedom of expression. In many parts of the world today, artists and intellectuals are silenced, imprisoned, or forced into exile. INFERNO is a response to these realities, using art as a means of resistance and liberation.

INFERNO was originally created in collaboration with the Bargello Museum in Florence and the Neustart Kultur Fonds Germany. It  later became part of the Medici Portraits exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The artwork is designed by Dutch art director Daniel Mulder. The marble sculpture we see on the cover is by Vincenzo Danti called “Honour Triumphant over Falsehood”, dated 1561 and it is displayed at the Bargello Museum in Florence, the hometown of Dante Alighieri.