CCN MALANDAIN BALLET BIARRITZ

Les Saisons

Creation 2023 proposed by the Opéra Royal de Versailles

Ballet for 22 dancers

Choreography: Thierry Malandain
Music: Antonio Vivaldi, Giovanni Antonio Guido
Set and costumes Jorge Gallardo
Lighting design: François Menou
Realization costumes: Véronique Murat, Charlotte Margnoux

Set designer: Frédéric Vadé
Props director: Annie Onchalo
Set and prop assistants: Nicolas Rochais, Gorka Arpajou, Félix Vermandé, Raphaël Jeanneret, Christof t’Siolle, Txomin Laborde- Peyre, Maruschka Miramon, Karine Prins, Sandrine Mestas Gleizes, Fanny Sudres and Fantine Goulot
Ballet master: Richard Coudray, Giuseppe Chiavaro, Frederik Deberdt

Choreographic artists: Noé Ballot, Giuditta Banchetti, Julie Bruneau, Raphaël Canet, Clémence Chevillotte, Mickaël Conte, Loan Frantz, Irma Hoffren, Hugo Layer, Guillaume Lillo, Claire Lonchampt, Timothée Mahut, Alessia Peschiulli, Julen Rodríguez Flores, Alejandro Sánchez Bretones, Ismael Turel Yagüe, Yui Uwaha, Chelsey Van Belle, Patricia Velazquez, Allegra Vianello, Laurine Viel, Léo Wanner

Two composers, with one rising star to discover, an inspired choreographer and a troupe at their peak come together to celebrate the beauties of nature. A highly anticipated show on a universal theme.

Of course, there are those, celebrated works, of Antonio Vivaldi. But the four seasons were also set to music by his contemporary Giovanni Guido, who made his career in Paris during the regency of Philippe d’Orléans and the reign of Louis XIV. While the former’s immensely popular score has become a well-known classic, the latter’s – based four anonymous poems entitled Les Caractères des Saisons, has remained virtually unknown. Thierry Malandain takes up their twofold challenge with brilliance and sensitivity, in a ballet presented in world première at the Cannes – Côte d’Azur Dance Festival. The idea of bringing these two works together was suggested to him by Laurent Brunner, director of Château de Versailles Spectacles, and by conductor Stefan Plewniak, who had made it the programme of a concert at the Royal Opera two years prior. This idea quickly seduced the author of Noé (2017) and La Pastorale (2019), always eager to put his musical intelligence at the service of humanity and the living. At a time when the degradation of our environment represents a tangible threat, no less than eight seasons here will celebrate nature, a word that Thierry Malandain appropriately recalls is derived from the Latin verb to be born. A promise of renewal, and a reason for hope.

Thierry Malandain

While invoking his “culture of classical ballet”, the choreographer Thierry Malandain has been offering up a current and contemporary look at academic dance for over 35 years – alongside more than 80 ballets. Head of the Biarritz National Choreographic Centre since 1998, he has received numerous awards and international distinctions, including several nominations for the Benois de la Danse. A fine connoisseur of dance history, he was elected to chair the brand new Choreography section of the Academy of Fine Arts in 2019.

Distribution

Spring Antonio Vivaldi

Giuditta Banchetti and Hugo Layer

Noé Ballot, Julie Bruneau, Raphaël Canet, Mickaël Conte, Loan
Frantz, Irma Hoffren, Guillaume Lillo, Claire Lonchampt, Timothée Mahut, Alessia Peschiulli, Julen Rodríguez, Flores, Yui Uwaha, Patricia Velazquez, Chelsey Van Belle, Allegra Vianello, Laurine Viel, Léo Wanner.

Spring Giovanni Guido

“Time flies. “ Clémence Chevillotte, Laurine Viel, Alejandro Sánchez Bretones, Ismaël Turel Yagüe

“Dance of the shepherds Hugo Layer

Summer Antonio Vivaldi

Patricia Velazquez and Noé Ballot

Julie Bruneau, Giuditta Banchetti, Raphaël Canet, Clémence Chevillotte, Mickaël Conte, Loan Frantz, Irma Hoffren, Hugo Layer, Guillaume Lillo, Claire Lonchampt, Timothée Mahut, Alessia Peschiulli, Julen Rodríguez, Flores, Alejandro Sánchez Bretones, Ismaël Turel Yagüe, Yui Uwaha, Chelsey Van Belle, Allegra Vianello, Laurine Viel, Léo Wanner.

Summer Giovanni Guido

“L’air s’enflamme”. “Zéphire disparaît “Song of the cuckoos
Allegra Vianello and Léo Wanner

“Vole à notre secours O! Adorable Ceres”.
Patricia Velazquez and Hugo Layer

Autumn Antonio Vivaldi

Irma Hoffren and Raphaël Canet

Noé Ballot, Julie Bruneau, Giuditta Banchetti, Clémence Chevillotte, Mickaël Conte, Loan Frantz, Hugo Layer, Guillaume Lillo, Claire Lonchampt, Timothée Mahut, Alessia Peschiulli, Julen Rodríguez, Flores, Alejandro Sánchez Bretones, Ismaël Turel Yagüe, Yui Uwaha, Patricia Velazquez, Chelsey Van Belle, Allegra Vianello, Laurine Viel, Léo Wanner.

Autumn Giovanni Guido

“Celebrating the return of Autumn”

Alessia Peschiulli, Yui Uwaha, Guillaume Lillo, Julen Rodríguez

“Allegro”

Patricia Velazquez, Raphaël Canet, Hugo Layer

Winter Antonio Vivaldi

Claire Lonchampt and Mickaël Conte

Noé Ballot, Julie Bruneau, Giuditta Banchetti, Raphaël Canet, Clémence Chevillotte, Loan Frantz, Irma Hoffren, Hugo Layer, Guillaume Lillo, Alessia Peschiulli, Julen Rodríguez, Flores, Alejandro Sánchez Bretones, Ismaël Turel Yagüe, Yui Uwaha, Patricia Velazquez, Allegra Vianello, Laurine Viel, Léo Wanner.

Winter Giovanni Guido

“The frosty season”

Julie Bruneau, Clémence Chevillotte, Loan Frantz, Léo Wanner

“Le cruel Aquilon nous déclare la guerre” (The cruel Aquilon declares war on us)

Claire Lonchampt, Patricia Velazquez, Raphaël Canet, Hugo Layer

“Let the winds rumble”

All the dancers

Credits

Main co-producer : Château de Versailles Spectacles – Opéra Royal de Versailles / Coproduction: Festival de Danse Cannes – Côte d’Azur France

Coproduction : Festival de Danse Cannes – Côte d’Azur France ; Teatro Victoria Eugenia – Ballet T – Ville
de Donostia San Sebastián ; Opéra de Saint-Etienne ; Theater Bonn – Germany ; Teatro la Fenice – Venice (Italy) ; CCN Malandain Ballet Biarritz / Partners : Teatro de la Maestranza – Sevilla (Spain) ; Teatro Campoamor – Oviedo (Spain) ; Festival Internacional de Músicay Danza de Grenada – Alhambra (Spain) ; Opera de Reims ; Espace Jéliote d’Oloron-Sainte-Marie ; Théâtre Olympia d’Arcachon /

Supported by Fonds de dotation Malandain pour la Danse; Association Amis du Malandain Ballet Biarritz; Carré des Mécènes du Malandain Ballet Biarritz.