Productions

A Ballet by Giorgio Madia on the music of Joseph Haydn
Director, librettist, choreographer and lighting designer Giorgio Madia (Italy)
Musical Director and Conductor Aleksandr Brazhnyk
Conductor Martin Sildos
Set and Costume Designer Domenico Franchi
Director’s Assistant Matthew James Jordan
Choreographer’s Assistant Mihaela Devald Roksandić
Lighting Designer’s Assistant Kaspar Aus
Cast Alain Divoux, Gustavo Pedro, Akihito Shimogata, Yuta Irikura, Georgia Toni Hyrkäs, Maria Engel, Alexander Germain Drew, Gus Upchurch, Bradley Howell, Alezandra Heidi Foyen, Caroline Maquignon, Olivia Lenssens, Raminta Rudžionytė-Jordan, Janek Savolainen, Bleiddian Bazzard, Karmen Puis, Merle Jalakas, Selma Strandberg, Sarah Ross, Natalie Barbis, Ana Maria Gergely
Vanemuine ballet company and Vanemuine symphony orchestra

Based on the scandalous 18^th century novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, Giorgio Madia’s Dangerous Liaisons explores the schemes of the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil, two French aristocrats locked in a battle of wits, wills, and seduction. This involves cruel manipulations with those more naïve and innocent than them. They both enjoy outdoing each other, spinning their net of intrigues only serves to grow their mutual desire.

A contemporary of the ancien régime during which the libertine spirit reigned over the noble class, Choderlos de Laclos, the author of the epistolary novel, exemplified in a cold and cynical way what might happen if not all participants of such frivolous games were familiar with their intricate rules. It is the fascinating brilliance of cruel intentions that guides the events of this legendary masterpiece of French literature.

Giorgio Madia, widely known in Europe for his full-length narrative ballets, strives to make theatre that is not about the steps but about the story, and even more so about the subtext: suspense, excitement, and allusions. The ballet Dangerous Liaisons is a sensual game of lust, seduction, and revenge. Until someone falls in love…