A Ballet by Giorgio Madia on the music of Joseph Haydn
Premiere on September 28th 2024 at the Vanemuine Theatre Grand Building
Composer: Joseph Haydn
Director, Librettist, Choreographer and Lighting Designer: Giorgio Madia (Italy)
Musical Director and Conductor: Aleksandr Brazhnyk
Conductor: Martin Sildos
Set and Costume Designer: Domenico Franchi (Italy)
Director’s Assistant: Matthew James Jordan
Choreographer’s Assistant: Mihaela Devald Roksandić (Croatia)
Lighting Designer’s Assistant: Kaspar Aus
Repetitors: Rufina Noor, Matthew James Jordan, Rita Dolgihh
Cast:
La Marquise de Merteuil: Georgia Toni Hyrkäs
Le Vicomte de Valmont: Alain Divoux
Azolan: Akihito Shimogata
Le Conte de Gercourt: Alexander Germain Drew
Le Chevalier Danceny: Bradley Howell
Madame de Volanges: Maria Engel
Cécile de Volanges: Caroline Maquignon
Madame de Tourvel: Raminta Rudžionytė-Jordan
Président de Tourvel: Janek Savolainen
Madame de Rosemonde: Karmen Puis
Vanemuine Ballet Company and Symphony Orchestra
Based on the scandalous 18thcentury novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, Giorgio Madia’s Dangerous Liaisons explores the schemes of the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil, two French aristocrats locked in a battle of wits, wills, and seduction. This involves cruel manipulations with those more naïve and innocent than them. They both enjoy outdoing each other, spinning their net of intrigues only serves to grow their mutual desire.
A contemporary of the ancien régime during which the libertine spirit reigned over the noble class, Choderlos de Laclos, the author of the epistolary novel, exemplified in a cold and cynical way what might happen if not all participants of such frivolous games were familiar with their intricate rules. It is the fascinating brilliance of cruel intentions that guides the events of this legendary masterpiece of French literature.
Giorgio Madia, widely known in Europe for his full-length narrative ballets, strives to make theatre that is not about the steps but about the story, and even more so about the subtext: suspense, excitement, and allusions. The ballet Dangerous Liaisons is a sensual game of lust, seduction, and revenge. Until someone falls in love…
Attention! The performance features several scenes with erotic undertones.