Towards the end of April, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will present five performances that blend modernity with the medieval, tragedy with resilience, and romance with emotional depth. On the agenda: George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Alexei Ratmansky’s Wartime Elegy and Marco Goecke’s Transfigured Night.
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo are celebrating the coming of springtime with a focus on three extraordinary choreographers at the Grimaldi Forum’s Salle des Princes between 23rd and 27th April.
Each performance will open with Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, which premiered in New York in 1946. One of Balanchine’s early experimental works, it is a striking fusion of classical ballet and modern abstraction, inspired by the medieval concept of four distinct human temperaments. Set to the evocative music of Paul Hindemith, Balanchine’s choreography transforms the stage into a mesmerising play of sharp lines, dynamic energy and pure movement.
Then comes a deeply emotional turn with Wartime Elegy, an evocative piece by Ratmansky that brings the Ukrainian people’s resilience and suffering to life. Far more than a narrative of war and destruction, this ballet is a poignant tribute to human strength, humour and shared connections. Through a blend of storytelling, folk influences and contemporary movement, Ratmansky invites audiences into a world where laughter, sorrow and determination coexist in a powerful artistic expression.
Finally, the audience will be treated to Goecke’s interpretation of Transfigured Night, a work set to Arnold Schoenberg’s stirring composition. Originally written as a declaration of love to his fiancée, the music finds new depth in Goecke’s dynamic and deeply expressive choreography. His signature movement style—at once frenzied and tender—breathes new life into this romantic masterpiece, promising an emotionally charged and visually stunning finale.
Presented in collaboration with Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo, this exceptional programme will be accompanied by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Jesko Sirvend. A thrilling fusion of classical grandeur and innovative storytelling, this ballet event is set to be one of the cultural highlights of the season.
Performances run from 23rd to 26th April at 7.30pm, with a special matinee on 27th April at 3pm.
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Photo credit: Alice Blangero