BOVARY

Gustave Flaubert’s novel “Madame Bovary” is one of the masterpieces of world literature. The novel tells the story of a young woman from the country who wants more from life than a suffocating provincial existence at the side of an ambitionless, petty bourgeoisie husband. Emma Bovary rebels against her marriage – taking on lovers, losing herself in dreams of passion, luxury, and debauchery – and fails.

Once again, Christian Spuck places a female outsider at the heart of his new ballet, the premiere of which will open his position as artistic director of the Berlin State Ballet in October 2023. “Bovary” is about the search for female self-determination: Intoxication and loneliness, surrogates for love, self- indulgence, and hedonism all play an essential role here, as well as the question of where things lead when dream worlds and reality fatally overlap.

Everything that is a part of Spuck’s choreographic signature can be found in his new ballet evening, including his interest in literary material, his sense for moving character studies, and his love of darkly poetic imagery and subtle humor. “Bovary” also displays Spuck’s ability to tell stories, not merely telling them but effectively penetrating the characters’ inner lives and turning their longings, rebellion, outsiderness, and emotional conflicts into dance. “A triumph for the company, a brilliant moment of dance.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung)

BOVARY
A dance play by Christian Spuck
After the novel by Gustave Flaubert

Staatsballet Berlin
with Weronika Frodyma as Emma Bovary

Christian Spuck, choreography
Rufus Didwiszus, stage design
Emma Ryott, costumes
Martin Gebhard, light design

Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Jonathan Stockhammer, conductor
Adrian Oetiker, piano

With music by Camille Saint-Saëns, György Ligeti, Toru Takemitsu, Arvo Pärt, Charles Ives, Camille, and Thierry Pécou