World premiere
Munich
13 May 2026
At schwere reiter during the Münchener Biennale.
Winner of the 2026 Open Call on the theme “Martial Arts”, selected from 85 submissions by an international jury.
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World premiere, Munich. Photo © Frol Podlesnyi
A child is trained for ritual war and destined to give their life so that the sun may continue.
Xochiyaoyotl, translated as Flower Wars, follows fragmented Aztec memory through sonic images, movement and dreamscapes. Human bodies awaken ceramic artifacts as instruments, presences and vessels of memory.
Trailer
2 min 37 sec
The work
“Xochiyaoyotl” refers to the ritual combat practices of the Aztecs, extinguished by the Spanish conquest and surviving only in fragmented memory.
In a world where the gods were sustained by human devotion and sacrifice, a child is trained for war, destined to give their life to preserve the sun god. The story unfolds outside linear time as a sequence of sonic images, memories and dreamscapes.
Maximiliano Soto Mayorga, Amauta García and David Camargo create a music theatre in which sound, space and movement emerge from ceramic artifacts. Through breath, touch, impact and movement, performers bring these objects into a new existence. The sculptures become sound objects, instruments and physical counterparts to the human body.
Artistic team
Composition and conceptMaximiliano Soto Mayorga
Libretto, video and dramaturgyAmauta García
Set, costume and instrument designDavid Camargo
Creative development
- Dramaturgy
- Julian Kämper
- Movement coach
- Franzy Deutscher
- Musical rehearsal assistance
- Ina Stoertzenbach
Voices
- Soprano
- Laure-Catherine Beyers
- Countertenor
- Johannes Wieners
Instrumentalists
- Contrabass clarinet
- Paula Haeni
- Electric guitar
- Johannes Öllinger
- Cello
- Myriam García Fidalgo
- Percussion
- Mathias Lachenmayr, Daan Wilms
Presentation history
The work premiered in Munich and was subsequently presented in Graz. Each photographic record remains separate and can be opened full screen.
Austrian premiere
Graz
2 and 3 July 2026
At Helmut List Halle, presented by Styriarte.
“Eine wilde Blume im Styriarte-Kranz.”
Kleine Zeitung, 4 July 2026
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Production snapshot
A first view for programmers and producing partners. Detailed technical documentation is available on request.
Format
Playing forces2 voices, 1 performer, contrabass clarinet, cello, electric guitar and percussion
Running timeApproximately 50-55 minutes
Touring
Existing materialCeramic sculptures, costumes and essential production materials are in storage and available for remounting
RemountWith the premiere cast, technical setup and rehearsals can be completed within 2 days
Stage systems
PerformanceCeramic sound objects, live electronics, lighting and video mapping
Access and noticeGerman and English surtitles are available. Strobe lighting effects are used
Production partners
Co-production by Münchener Biennale and Styriarte Graz, in cooperation with schwere reiter/scope München. Production commissioned by the City of Munich for the Münchener Biennale.