Valencia - Serenade - Tchaikovsky - 28 Mar 2026

 

Valencia Opera House

In the warm and vibrant Mediterranean city of Valencia, one of the most exquisite ballet evenings of the season will soon take place. The performance will unfold in the breathtaking Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, the spectacular opera house that rises like a futuristic sculpture within the architectural complex of the City of Arts and Sciences.

Designed by the visionary architect Santiago Calatrava, this extraordinary theatre appears almost like a spaceship from the twenty-second century. Its sweeping white curves, metallic surfaces, and immense glass spaces give the impression of a futuristic vessel ready to launch into orbit. Yet inside this dazzling structure lies one of Europe’s most impressive opera and ballet halls, renowned for its exceptional acoustics and elegant atmosphere. Attending a ballet here is not only a cultural event but also an architectural experience.

In this magnificent setting, the Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) presents NumEros, a fascinating triple bill celebrating three choreographic geniuses of the dance world. Under the artistic direction of Muriel Romero, the company has become one of Europe’s most respected ballet ensembles, known for its versatility, musicality, and powerful stage presence. Its dancers — a remarkable international group of artists — are admired for their technical brilliance and expressive depth, qualities that have brought the company increasing recognition on the global dance scene.

The evening opens with Serenade, the poetic masterpiece by the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Created in 1934 for the students of the School of American Ballet in New York, the work became the first ballet that Balanchine choreographed in America and later a cornerstone of neoclassical ballet. Set to the luminous Serenade for Strings by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the ballet unfolds as a series of dreamlike scenes for a corps of women and a small group of soloists. The choreography flows with musical purity, transforming Tchaikovsky’s sweeping melodies into graceful formations, shimmering lines, and moments of lyrical beauty. The delicate costumes designed by Barbara Karinska contribute to the ethereal atmosphere of the piece, which remains one of the most beloved ballets of the twentieth century.

The second part of the program presents the world premiere of Echoes from a Restless Soul, created by Italian choreographer and dancer Jacopo Godani. This new work is set to the haunting piano cycle Gaspard de la nuit by Maurice Ravel, one of the most virtuosic and mysterious works in the piano repertoire. Godani’s choreography explores the restless energy and emotional intensity suggested by Ravel’s music through a series of duets and quartets. The piece combines sculptural movement, intricate partnering, and dynamic spatial patterns, creating a powerful dialogue between music and motion. Godani also designs the lighting and costumes, shaping a complete visual world that reflects the turbulent poetry of the score.

The evening concludes with a burst of contemporary energy in Playlist (Track 1, 2) by the innovative American choreographer William Forsythe. Known for revolutionizing classical ballet vocabulary, Forsythe blends academic technique with modern rhythm and improvisational spirit. In this vibrant work, dancers move with exhilarating freedom to music by Peven Everett and Lion Babe, mixing neo-soul and house sounds with virtuosic ballet steps. The result is playful, stylish, and electrifying — a celebration of pure movement and joy. The lighting by Tanja Rühl and the sleek costume design contribute to the dynamic atmosphere of the piece.

Throughout the evening, the dancers of the Compañía Nacional de Danza demonstrate their remarkable artistry and versatility. From the lyrical elegance required in Balanchine’s neoclassical style, to the emotional complexity of Godani’s new creation, and finally to the exuberant contemporary flair of Forsythe, the performers reveal the full range of their talent. Accompanying them is the magnificent Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana under the musical direction of Manuel Coves, whose interpretation of the scores adds richness and depth to the experience.

Performances take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 19:00 and Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 18:00, with tickets starting at an accessible price, making this extraordinary evening of dance available to a wide audience.

Such a program is more than a ballet performance — it is an invitation to travel. A journey to Valencia offers the chance not only to witness world-class dance but also to discover a city full of charm: its historic streets, Mediterranean light, and legendary gastronomy, from traditional rice dishes to innovative cuisine.

To spend an evening at the Palau de les Arts, watching the great dancers of Spain’s national company perform masterpieces of Balanchine, Godani, and Forsythe, is to experience ballet at its most inspiring — in a theatre that feels as though it has arrived from the future.

A night of beauty, music, architecture, and dance that promises to remain unforgettable.

Dans la chaleureuse et vibrante ville méditerranéenne de Valence, l'une des plus belles soirées de ballet de la saison se déroulera bientôt. Le spectacle aura lieu dans le somptueux Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, un opéra spectaculaire qui se dresse tel une sculpture futuriste au sein du complexe architectural de la Cité des Arts et des Sciences.

Conçu par l'architecte visionnaire Santiago Calatrava, ce théâtre extraordinaire évoque un vaisseau spatial du XXIIe siècle. Ses courbes blanches élancées, ses surfaces métalliques et ses immenses espaces vitrés donnent l'impression d'un vaisseau futuriste prêt à décoller. Pourtant, derrière cette structure éblouissante se cache l'une des salles d'opéra et de ballet les plus impressionnantes d'Europe, réputée pour son acoustique exceptionnelle et son atmosphère élégante. Assister à un ballet ici est non seulement un événement culturel, mais aussi une expérience architecturale.

Dans ce cadre magnifique, la Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) présente NumEros, un fascinant triptyque célébrant trois génies de la chorégraphie. Sous la direction artistique de Muriel Romero, la compagnie est devenue l'un des ensembles de ballet les plus respectés d'Europe, reconnue pour sa polyvalence, sa musicalité et sa présence scénique saisissante. Ses danseurs – un groupe international d'artistes remarquables – sont admirés pour leur virtuosité technique et leur profondeur expressive, qualités qui ont valu à la compagnie une reconnaissance croissante sur la scène chorégraphique mondiale.

La soirée s'ouvre sur Sérénade, le chef-d'œuvre poétique du légendaire chorégraphe George Balanchine. Créée en 1934 pour les élèves de la School of American Ballet de New York, cette œuvre fut le premier ballet chorégraphié par Balanchine en Amérique et devint par la suite une pierre angulaire du ballet néoclassique. Sur la lumineuse Sérénade pour cordes de Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski, le ballet se déploie comme une série de scènes oniriques pour un corps de ballet féminin et un petit groupe de solistes. La chorégraphie, d'une pureté musicale remarquable, transforme les mélodies amples de Tchaïkovski en formations gracieuses, en lignes chatoyantes et en moments d'une beauté lyrique. Les costumes délicats conçus par Barbara Karinska contribuent à l'atmosphère éthérée de cette œuvre, qui demeure l'un des ballets les plus appréciés du XXe siècle.

La seconde partie du programme présente la création mondiale d'« Échos d'une âme tourmentée », une création du chorégraphe et danseur italien Jacopo Godani. Cette nouvelle œuvre est mise en musique par le cycle pour piano envoûtant « Gaspard de la nuit » de Maurice Ravel, l'une des œuvres les plus virtuoses et mystérieuses du répertoire pianistique. La chorégraphie de Godani explore l'énergie tourmentée et l'intensité émotionnelle suggérées par la musique de Ravel à travers une série de duos et de quatuors. La pièce combine mouvements sculpturaux, duos complexes et jeux spatiaux dynamiques, créant un puissant dialogue entre la musique et le mouvement. Godani conçoit également les lumières et les costumes, façonnant un univers visuel complet qui reflète la poésie tumultueuse de la partition.

La soirée s'achève sur une explosion d'énergie contemporaine avec « Playlist » (pistes 1 et 2) du chorégraphe américain novateur William Forsythe. Reconnu pour avoir révolutionné le vocabulaire du ballet classique, Forsythe allie la technique académique au rythme moderne et à un esprit d'improvisation. Dans cette œuvre vibrante, les danseurs évoluent avec une liberté exaltante sur une musique de Peven Everett et Lion Babe, mêlant néo-soul et house à des pas de ballet virtuoses. Le résultat est ludique, élégant et électrisant – une célébration du mouvement pur et de la joie. Les lumières de Tanja Rühl et les costumes épurés contribuent à l'atmosphère dynamique de la pièce.

Tout au long de la soirée, les danseurs de la Compañía Nacional de Danza démontrent leur remarquable art et leur polyvalence. De l'élégance lyrique requise par le style néoclassique de Balanchine à la complexité émotionnelle de la nouvelle création de Godani, et enfin à la fougue contemporaine exubérante de Forsythe, les interprètes révèlent toute l'étendue de leur talent. Ils sont accompagnés par le magnifique Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, sous la direction musicale de Manuel Coves, dont l'interprétation des partitions enrichit et approfondit l'expérience.

Les représentations auront lieu le samedi 28 mars 2026 à 19h00 et le dimanche 29 mars 2026 à 18h00. Les billets, à un prix abordable, permettent à un large public d'assister à cette soirée de danse exceptionnelle.

Ce programme est bien plus qu'un simple spectacle de ballet : c'est une véritable invitation au voyage. Un séjour à Valence vous offre l'opportunité d'admirer une danse de renommée internationale et de découvrir une ville pleine de charme : ses rues historiques, sa lumière méditerranéenne et sa gastronomie légendaire, des plats de riz traditionnels à une cuisine innovante.

Bologna - Cavalleria Rusticana - 21 / 29 Mar 2026

Shaftesbury Theatre  - London -  19 October 1891 

Few operas in history owe their existence so vividly to chance, urgency, and youthful daring as Cavalleria Rusticana. Its genesis reads almost like a verismo drama in itself: a young, relatively unknown composer, Pietro Mascagni, racing against time to submit his score to a competition organized by the Milanese publisher Casa Sonzogno. The contest sought new one-act operas, and no fewer than seventy-three entries were submitted. Mascagni, working under pressure and with little expectation of success, reportedly delivered his manuscript at the very last moment—just before the deadline expired.

That last-minute gamble would become one of the most legendary success stories in operatic history. Not only did Mascagni’s work place among the winners, it quickly emerged as the undeniable triumph of the competition. When Cavalleria Rusticana premiered in Rome in 1890, the reaction was nothing short of sensational. The audience demanded encore after encore, and Mascagni was called back to the stage dozens of times—an astonishing testament to the immediate emotional impact of the work. Its raw realism, drawn from a Sicilian tale by Giovanni Verga, and its searing musical language marked the birth of operatic verismo as a dominant force.

From that moment, the opera spread like wildfire across Europe and beyond: Berlin, Vienna, Paris, New York, Buenos Aires—every major cultural capital embraced it. Yet one of its most fascinating chapters unfolded in London, where it became not just a success, but a theatrical and cultural battleground.

The British premiere took place on 19 October 1891 at what was then known as the Royal English Opera House, today the Shaftesbury Theatre. This was no ordinary venue choice. The production was driven by the bold impresario Signor Lago, who sought to challenge the dominance of Royal Opera House. At the time, Covent Garden represented tradition, prestige, and a certain conservatism in programming. Lago, by contrast, seized the opportunity to present Mascagni’s electrifying new work in a modern, ambitious theatre eager to make its mark.

The result was extraordinary. Cavalleria Rusticana became an overnight sensation in London, drawing packed houses and generating a level of excitement that rivaled—and in some respects eclipsed—the offerings at Covent Garden. Performances were frequent, sometimes nearly daily, and audiences were captivated by the opera’s emotional directness and dramatic intensity. For a time, the Shaftesbury Theatre stood at the very center of London’s operatic life, a symbol of innovation challenging establishment tradition.

This moment also reflects the broader evolution of London’s theatrical culture. The theatre itself, later known simply as the Shaftesbury Theatre, would go on to host an extraordinary range of performances, eventually welcoming legendary artists such as Margot Fonteyn and Moira Shearer. Though its repertoire shifted over time—from opera to ballet to musical theatre—the building retained the aura of a place where artistic risks could redefine the cultural landscape.

Meanwhile, Covent Garden would eventually embrace Mascagni’s masterpiece as well, incorporating it into its repertoire and pairing it frequently with Pagliacci. But the initial triumph belonged unmistakably to the “outsider” venue that dared to act first.

What makes this story so compelling is the convergence of elements: a young composer’s last-minute submission, a competition that changed operatic history, and a theatrical rivalry that brought a revolutionary work to the forefront of London society. From its precarious beginnings to its global domination, Cavalleria Rusticana remains a testament to how inspiration, opportunity, and bold decision-making can transform not only a career, but an entire art form.

La nuova produzione di Cavalleria Rusticana al Comunale Nouveau si preannuncia come uno degli appuntamenti più affascinanti della stagione lirica bolognese. In attesa della riapertura dello storico Teatro Comunale di Bologna, questa sede temporanea accoglie un allestimento di grande respiro artistico, capace di coniugare tradizione e intensità drammatica.

Le rappresentazioni sono previste nelle seguenti date: il 21° marzo alle ore 20:00 (prima), il 22 marzo alle ore 16:00, il 25 marzo alle ore 20:00, il 26 marzo alle ore 18:00, il 28 marzo alle ore 18:00 e il 29 marzo alle ore 16:00. Un calendario ricco che permetterà al pubblico di immergersi più volte nella forza travolgente del capolavoro verista di Pietro Mascagni.

Sul podio troviamo il maestro Daniel Oren, interprete di straordinaria esperienza nel repertorio italiano, mentre la regia è affidata alla visione intensa e teatrale di Emma Dante. L’allestimento, firmato dal Teatro Comunale di Bologna, si avvale delle scene di Carmine Maringola, dei costumi di Vanessa Sannino, delle luci di Cristian Zucaro e delle coreografie di Manuela Lo Sicco, con la ripresa registica curata da Federico Gagliardi. Il coro è preparato da Giovanni Farina, elemento fondamentale per restituire tutta la forza corale dell’opera.

Il cast riunisce interpreti di altissimo livello. Nel ruolo di Turiddu si alterneranno Roberto Aronica e Francesco Pio Galasso, quest’ultimo particolarmente atteso dopo il grande successo ottenuto a Barcellona, al celebre Gran Teatre del Liceu, dove ha conquistato il pubblico con un memorabile Don Alvaro ne La forza del destino. Il suo Turiddu si preannuncia intenso, appassionato, capace di fondere slancio lirico e accento drammatico in una linea vocale di grande bellezza.

Accanto a lui, nel ruolo di Santuzza, troviamo la straordinaria Saioa Hernández, autentica stella del panorama operistico internazionale. La soprano madrilena ha recentemente trionfato al Liceu di Barcellona con una sensazionale interpretazione de La Gioconda, imponendosi come una delle voci più autorevoli del repertorio drammatico. A Bologna darà vita a una Santuzza intensa e lacerante, capace di restituire tutta la complessità emotiva del personaggio. Il ruolo sarà alternato con la raffinata Martina Belli, artista di grande sensibilità interpretativa.

Completano il cast Roman Burdenko nel ruolo di Alfio, Nino Chikovani come Lola, ed Elena Zilio nel ruolo di Mamma Lucia. Le parti minori vedono l’alternanza tra Fogel Fanny Eszter e Martina Rinaldi.

La serata è arricchita anche dalla proiezione di Rapsodia Satanica, con direzione musicale di Carmine Pinto e regia di Nino Oxilia, creando un suggestivo dialogo tra musica, cinema e teatro.

Tutto lascia presagire una serie di rappresentazioni di altissimo livello, dove la potenza della partitura mascagnana si unirà a un cast vocale di prim’ordine. Un’occasione imperdibile per vivere l’opera nella sua forma più autentica: una perfetta ragione per lasciarsi conquistare da Bologna e dalla sua grande tradizione musicale.