BLANCA LI
Dido and Aeneas
1h10
Blanca Li has made a fascinating and liberating visual and choreographic interpretation of the tragic story of Dido and Aeneas and the masterpiece it inspired in the composer Henry Purcell. This fable, which is at once timeless and contemporary, is performed by ten dancers, and in which chiaroscuro heightens the atmosphere of magic and intimacy.
The love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, future founder of Rome, remains one of the most moving passages in Virgil’s Aeneid. In the libretto for Henry Purcell’s famous opera (1689), Nahum Tate nevertheless took care to leave out some of the main events to allow the music to express its full evocative power. This was liberating for the choreographer Blanca Li, who in turn sought to underscore through dance what the music and text are not saying, decidedly giving primacy to symbolism over realism. Using the version recorded by Les Arts Florissants, she delivers a fascinatingly beautiful choreographic and visual interpretation of this opera, one of the highest expressions of the tragedy of passionate love, underlining its power and timelessness. Blanca Li creates a thrillingly imaginative visual fable of the ill-fated love between Dido and Aeneas, Dido’s suicide, fed by the hearsay (la “fama”) that immediately spread news of their impossible love to the people and to the gods – not unlike the social networksof today that blindly propagate even the smallest of rumours.
With Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse
Cultural action and mediation
Alongside La Villette’s artistic and cultural education team, the company’s performers conduct eight hours of workshops for teachers and people with disabilities, as well as a session with blind and visually impaired audiences.
Stage and choreography Blanca Li assisted by Déborah Torres Garguilo and Glyslein Lefeve
Scenography Blanca Li with the participation of Pierre Attrait assisted by Nina Coulais
With Alizée Duvernois, Victor Virnot, Julien Marie-Anne, Meggie Isabet, Maeva Lassere, Coline Fayolle, Gaël Rougegrez, Martina Consoli, Gaetan Vermeulen, Quentin Picot
Recorded music Les Arts Florissants – William Christie
Music recording at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona Composer Henry Purcell Works Didon et Enée and Celestial Music Did The Gods Inspire, Z322 Lights Pascal Laajili assisted by Jean-Luc Passarelli and Boris Pijetlovic Costumes Laurent Mercier assisted by Ghjulia Giusti Muselli Technical direction Jérémie Oler Production and tour administration Camille Denisty Production direction Etienne Li
Production Calentito – Compagnie Blanca Li
Coproduction La Villette – Paris, Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse, Théâtre de Liège
Choregraphic creation at the Studios de la Compagnie, Fondation Fiminco de Romainville
Hosted creation residency at Le Cube Garges
With the support of ministère de la Culture – Direction régionale des affaires culturelles d’Île-de-France
Practical information
Espace Chapiteaux
Metro (subway)
Line 5 - Porte de Pantin (+10 min. walk)
Check the operational status of the elevators by calling 01 40 03 75 75
Metro (subway)
Line 7 - Corentin Cariou (+10 min. walk)
Metro (subway)
Line 7 - Porte de la Villette (+10 min. walk)
Tramway
Line 3b - Porte de la Villette (+15 min. walk)
Bus
Lines 139, 150, 152 - Porte de la Villette
Parking
Q-Park
Philharmonie
Q-Park
Cité de la Musique - La Villette
Q-Park
Cité de la Musique - Conservatoire
Parking
Cité des Sciences
- Accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM) contact on 01 40 03 75 75
- Performance with audio description on saturday 10.19 at 3 p.m.
- Release on mondays
- Catering available on-site before or after the show
In the press
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