Semiramis and Don Juan: two Baroque ballets told through dance at the Opéra-Comique

In spring 2025,the Opéra-Comique presents a rare diptych in the history of narrative ballet: Sémiramis and Don Juan, two works by Christoph Willibald Gluck based on arguments by Gasparo Calzabigi. Premiered in Vienna in 1761 and 1765 respectively, these ballet-pantomimes would have contributed to a discreet but decisive revolution in the history of the performing arts: making dance a genuine vehicle for dramatic action. In collaboration with the choreographer Angiolini, Gluck would have brought to the stage a new way of telling a story, free from mere ornament to focus on the intensity of gesture.

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In Don Juan, a tragic figure turned myth, the hero rejects divine authority and social rules until his downfall. Semiramis, on the other hand, tells the tale of an incestuous and fatal destiny, that of a queen who chooses her own son as her husband. Both works end with the appearance of a spectre, the embodiment of inescapable punishment. In this production, these stories will be choreographed by Edward Clug and Ángel Rodríguez, in a set design that promises to be contemporary yet respectful of the original spirit.

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This unique program would appeal to classical ballet fans, those curious about musical history and those passionate about reinterpreted mythological tales. It would also be a rare opportunity to see two of Gluck 's ballet-pantomimes together in the same evening, in a theater emblematic of the French lyrical tradition.

This article is based on information available online. The show has not been viewed by the editorial staff.

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