Les Grands Ballets Canadiens is pleased to be part of the 2024 edition of the Festival de Lanaudière, on July 26th in Joliette with a mixed bill featuring Suite Paquita, Carmen (pas de deux), Giselle (pas de deux), Spartacus (pas de deux), and Complete (Symphony No. 5).
From July 6 to August 4, the festival offers remarkable programming in an enchanting setting. This year, for its 47th edition, the festival takes place at the Amphithéatre Fernand-Lindsay in Joliette, as well as in historic churches, agrotourism sites, and cultural venues throughout the Lanaudière region.
Les Grands Ballets’ evening presents five pieces and excerpts of choreographies acclaimed by both the audience and critics. Opening this mixed bill is Suite Paquita, by Marina Villanueva based on Marius Petipa, which stages a key work in the history of romantic ballet. Set to the music of Ludwig Minkus and Édouard Deldevez, the dancers illustrate the love story between Paquita, a Romani girl, and Lucien, a young French aristocrat. This is followed by a pas de deux from Carmen by Étienne Béchard, which transports the dancers into a virtual universe where anything goes.
Pointe shoes and airy white tutus take center stage with a pas de deux from Giselle, by Ivan Cavallari based on Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa. This jewel of romantic ballet, created at the Paris Opera in 1841, continues to fascinate with its tragic love story where the fantastic opposes the real.
Adding to this is an excerpt from the famous choreography by Yuri Grigorovich, Spartacus. Illustrating the strength and passion that animate the characters of Spartacus and his beloved Phrygia, this pas de deux retraces their love story and their struggle against oppression, all highlighted by the dramatic intensity of Khachaturian's music.
In the second part, choreographer Garrett Smith celebrates individuality and self-acceptance with Complete, his creation set to Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, one of the most recognized symphonies in the world.
AMPHITHÉATRE FERNAND-LINDSAY
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 8:00 p.m.
Presented by Desjardins
