The Shakespearian classic's erotism and elegance
according to Jean-Christophe Maillot and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo

Teatro Regio, Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 8 pm

Teatro Regio is dedicating the entire month of November to dance with two extraordinary productions: classical dance performed by the company Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, which presents The Taming of the Shrew in the modern and highly sensitive version by Jean-Christophe Maillot with music by Dmitri Shostakovich, on stage from Nov. 6-10; and the fiery passion of flamenco in Fuego with music by Manuel de Falla, performed by the Compañía Antonio Gades, Nov. 14 - 17. On both occasions, the music will be performed by the Orchestra of Teatro Regio, with Igor Dronov conducting the first of the two productions. 

Wednesday, November 6 at 8 pm, ten years after its beautiful production of Sleeping Beauty in 2010, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo returns to Teatro Regio to present the famous ballet in two acts written by Jean Rouaud by based on the homonymous play by William Shakespeare. Presented for the first time in Turin, The taming of the Shrew is a production, created in 2014 for the prestigious Bolshoi Theatre and winner in 2015 of three Masques d'Or awards for the best ballet, which quickly became highly successful in theaters around the world. The choreography is by Jean-Christophe Maillot, assisted by Bernice Coppieters, the sets are by Ernest Pignon-Ernest, videos by Dominque Drillot and Matthieu Stefani, costumes by Augustin Maillot, and lighting by Dominique Drillot. It will be performed by the Company's forty-seven dancers, including many Italians.

Jean-Christophe Maillot is an exceptional figure in the dance world: he won the Prix de Lausanne in 1977 at only 17 years of age, and was called by John Neumeier to dance with the Hamburg Ballet. His solo career ended abruptly after only five years, due to an injury, but the incident opened the doors to Maillot for a second, prolific, artistic life as a choreographer. In 1993 his professional story became closely linked with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, a company sponsored and strongly supported by HRH the Princess of Hanover. Maillot has developed an unmistakable artistic style, closely connected to theatre and visual arts, making Montecarlo a destination for ballet lovers from all over Europe; a story that is ideally linked to the legendary Ballet Russes of Diaghilev, which created an uproar and  scandal in Montecarlo during the first two decades of the '900s. Over the years, Maillot has choreographed about forty unforgettable productions, which have resulted in prizes and international awards for the Company, always supported by its artistic team: the choreographer's divine muse and  assistant, Bernice Coppieters, set designer Ernest Pignon-Ernest, and lighting designer Dominique Drillot. 

The plot of the Shrew is “thorny” and perhaps for this reason it is often overlooked by contemporary theatre: in the politically correct canons of today, it is difficult to include this Shakespearean story that can all too easily be interpreted as a hymn to male chauvinism and female repression. Baptista, a wealthy Paduan gentleman, cannot marry off his submissive younger daughter Bianca until the elder daughter, the surly and obstinate Katherine, has found a husband. Then along comes Petruchio, a dowry hunter, who agrees to court the “shrew”, and after having married her- by then humiliated and offended - is able to mold her through more gentle advice, finally turning her into a docile and obedient wife.

Framed by elegant scenography, sophisticated costumes, and a very careful choice of colors, Maillot's ballet projects us into the atmosphere of a Broadway musical where the protagonists execute their movements to Dmitri Shostakovich's most vivid 'soundtrack'. According to Maillot, Katherine and Petruchio are protagonists on a par, inevitably attracted to one another in a meeting-clash of strong characters and provocatively “outside the box”. Opposed to the mannered and flirtatious society staged by Bianca and her three suitors, the two dominant personalities of Katherine and Petruchio and their dance/struggle of love belong to another dimension of the couple relationship, one that is complex, alive, and enthralling. “My goal” - says Maillot - “is to show a pair of wild cats, rather than a shrew who fights with a tamer”: it is a pungent and absolutely contemporary interpretation of this Shakespearean play.  

For the Conferences, at Piccolo Regio Puccini on Wednesday, October 30 at 5:30 pm, Elisa Guzzo Vaccarino will chair the event entitled: Dancing Witches, from Shakespeare to De Falla, to present the Taming of the Shrew and Fuego to the general public. Admission is free.

Tickets are on sale at the Teatro Regio Ticket Office, Piazza Castello 215 - Tel. 011.8815.241 / 242, at Infopiemonte-Torinocultura, at Vivaticket stores, and online on our website without commission costs, at www.vivaticket.it and by telephone at 011.8815.270. Ticket prices: November 6th show: €160 - 125 - 105 - 80 - 55; all other dates €100 - 90 - 80 - 70 - 30. Tickets reduced by 20% for those under 30 and 10% for those over 65. With the 18app, it is possible to purchase tickets (in any sector), and at a cost of €25 for the first performance on November 6th. An hour before the shows, any tickets still available are put on sale with a 20% reduction on the full price.
For more information:: Tel. 011.8815.557 and www.teatroregio.torino.it. 

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