CALIGULA
Live recording
from the Palais Garnier, Opéra national de Paris
Story by Nicolas
Le Riche and Guillaume Gallienne
Music by Antonio
Vivaldi (The Four Seasons) and
Louis Dandrel
(electro-acoustic creation)
Stéphane Bullion -
Caligula, Emperor of Rome
Clairemarie Osta -
The moon, Caligula's vision
Nicolas Paul -
Mnester, Pantomime
Aurélien Houette -
Charea, Senator
Mathias Heymann -
Incitatus, Caligula's horse
Eleonora Abbagnato
- Caesonia, Caligula's wife
The Paris Opera
Corps de Ballet
Brigitte Lefèvre -
director of dance
Orchestra of Paris
Opera (Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris)
Philippe Jordan - musical director
Frédéric Laroque - conductor and violin solo
Nicolas Le Riche - choreography
Guillaume Gallienne - dramaturgy
Daniel Jeanneteau - scenography
Raymonde Couvreu - video
Olivier Bériot - costumes
Dominique
Bruguière - lighting
Philippe Béziat
First performed in
2005, “Caligula” is Étoile Dancer Nicolas Le Riche's first choreography for the
Paris Opera Ballet. Intrigued by the complex and troubling personality of the
Roman emperor, the choreographer evokes the torments of a frail man capable of
loving the moon and idolizing his horse, a man impassioned by theatre and
constantly playing a role himself.
Constructed as a
tragedy, the choreography follows the inexorable progression of this solitary
hero towards death. Accompanied by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which illustrates
the irremediable passage of time, the dance, in all its depth and energy, translates
the poetry and the violence
inherent in a life consumed at lightning speed by excess.
Video courtesy of EuroArts
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