Sémiramis and Don juan at Opéra Comique

Fans of farce and choreographic connoisseurs can both rejoice - allow us to introduce you to this ballet-pantomime.

A marriage of two different theatrical words, ballet-pantomime is a subgenre recognised for its reliance on dance and pantomime to tell its narrative, without recourse to the spoken (or sung) word.

Inspired by the ballet d'action of the 18th century, ballet-pantomime places the emphasis on the expressiveness of the body and movement to convey the story and the emotions of the characters. The dancers, through their gestures and fluidity, embody the actions, feelings, and dialogue, immersing the audience in an exciting world that transcends language.

True to the spirit of the genre, words alone don’t do justice to the shows — it’s simply something you have to discover for yourself. This season, the Opéra Comique offers you the chance to see not one, but two of Gluck's pantomime ballets in a single evening: Sémiramis and Don Juan. This dual performance invites you to witness a show wherein primacy is finally given to expressive gesture over all the conventions of the time — marvel at the uniqueness of this subgenre and discover the artistic difference that is cultivated as a result.

Here’s the icing on the cake: the great and internationally-renowned Spanish conductor Jordi Savall will be standing at the helm of the equally revered orchestra of Le Concert des Nations. Musical excellence reaches its full potential in this unique show!

The Opéra Comique has a penchant for offering original shows and works that are rarely performed on-stage in the 21st century. This season, nothing has changed — two pantomime-ballets, created in Vienna in 1761 and 1765, take to the Opéra Comique’s storied stage once more.

Sémiramis and Don Juan marked a turning point in the history of ballet and opera. These works, the fruit of a collaboration between Gluck and the choreographer Angiolini, defied convention as a part of the German composer's artistic reform. Characteristically, these pantomime-ballets are recognised for their absence of traditional song and dance. Instead, the dancers within these pantomime-ballets don simple costumes and use expressive gestures to tell complex stories in a total departure from the conventions of the time.

Sémiramis provides an intimate exploration of love, revenge, and destiny in ancient Babylon. It is promptly followed by Don Juan, which offers an artistic depiction of seduction, damnation, and redemption, represented incarnate by the titular character.

Upon their premieres, these ballets were an immediate success and would go on to have an immense influence on Romantic ballet and later composers. Via these two works, Gluck's innovative spirit is embodied and expressed; his profound desire to create dramatic and innovative art is apparent in the immaculacy of his masterful panto-ballet blends.

A once-in-a-lifetime extraordinary show… you won’t want to miss out!