Rossini Cards – Le sacre du printemps

Rossini Cards – Le sacre du printemps
Teatro Massimo di Palermo 2025-02-15 ... 2025-02-22

The Teatro Massimo in Palermo presents a compelling double bill for the 2024/25 season: “Rossini Cards” by Mauro Bigonzetti and “The Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky. These two ballets, while vastly different in style and emotion, offer a captivating contrast that showcases the versatility and artistry of contemporary dance. “Rossini Cards”, choreographed by Mauro Bigonzetti, is an energetic and playful ballet set to the music of Gioachino Rossini. With its eclectic mix of classical and modern influences, the ballet reflects Rossini’s vivacious spirit through fluid movements and dynamic ensemble work. The choreography seamlessly intertwines Rossini’s compositions with a contemporary dance language, creating a work that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern. The ballet is brought to life with Carlo Cerri’s innovative lighting and scene designs, while Anna Biagiotti’s costumes add a touch of elegance to the production.
In stark contrast, Edward Clug’s “The Rite of Spring” dives into the primal and visceral, capturing the raw power and intensity of Igor Stravinsky’s iconic score. The ballet, famous for its revolutionary premiere in 1913, evokes the elemental forces of nature and the cycle of life and death. Clug’s interpretation maintains the work’s original intensity while infusing it with a contemporary sensibility. The choreography is both athletic and expressive, drawing the audience into a world of ritual and renewal. The set design by Marko Japelj and costumes by Leo Kulaš further enhance the stark, elemental aesthetic of the piece. Performed by the Teatro Massimo Ballet and Orchestra under the baton of conductor Mikhail Sinkevich, this pairing of “Rossini Cards” and “The Rite of Spring” promises to be a highlight of the season. The Teatro Massimo, with its grand architecture and rich cultural history, offers a unique setting for experiencing the dramatic contrasts of these two ballets. Located in the heart of Palermo, this historic venue invites visitors to combine an evening of world-class dance with the charm and allure of Sicily, making it an ideal cultural destination.

Teatro Massimo Travel Package

Music trip to Sicily with a performance at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo.
The Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy with a perfect acoustics and with magnificent reception rooms, galleries and monumental staircases. The neoclassical building dates back to the 19th century. The Teatro Massimo was the location for some scenes of the film “The Godfather” in which the godfather Michael Corleone attended the debut of his son in Pietro Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”.
Enjoy our music package with a magnificent performance and an exclusive leisure program in Palermo and Sicily. Choose a performance from the extensive program of operas, concerts and ballets and select between the essential package and add individual services that we offer with the superior program.

History of the Ballets

“Rossini Cards”, created in 2004 by Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti, is a contemporary ballet that draws inspiration from the lively and spirited music of Gioachino Rossini. Bigonzetti, known for his ability to blend classical ballet techniques with modern dance, uses Rossini’s compositions to create a dynamic and expressive work. The ballet is structured as a series of vignettes, each showcasing different aspects of Rossini’s music and character. Since its premiere, “Rossini Cards” has been performed by various companies worldwide, praised for its innovative choreography and the way it captures the essence of Rossini’s playful yet sophisticated style.
“The Rite of Spring” (“Le Sacre du Printemps”) by Igor Stravinsky is one of the most groundbreaking works in the history of ballet. It premiered in 1913 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky. The ballet’s dissonant music and avant-garde choreography shocked audiences at the time, leading to a famously controversial debut. The work depicts a pagan ritual in which a young maiden is chosen to dance herself to death as a sacrifice to the god of spring. Since then, “The Rite of Spring” has become a staple of the ballet repertoire, with numerous choreographers offering their interpretations. Edward Clug’s contemporary version maintains the original’s intensity while exploring new dimensions of movement and expression.

The Artists and Creative Team

ROSSINI CARDS

Gioachino Rossini

Conductor • Mikhail Sinkevich
Coreographer • Mauro Bigonzetti
Scene and Lighting Designs • Carlo Cerri
Costume Designs • Anna Biagiotti
Video • Carlo Cerri and OOOPStudio

A Production of the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome

LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS

Igor Stravinsky

Conductor • Mikhail Sinkevich
Coreographer and Lighting Designs • Edward Clug
Scene Designs • Marko Japelj
Costume Designs • Leo Kulaš
A production of the Maribor National Slovenian Theatre
Teatro Massimo Ballet and Orchestra
Ballet Director Jean-Sébastien Colau

Booking Process

Music trip to Sicily with premium tickets for the performance “Rossini Cards / Le sacre du printemps” at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo.
The travel package contains 3 days with 2 overnights in a hotel in Palermo and will be composed according to your wishes. You can select between Essential and Superior Package and request more overnights and a following program to explore Sicily.

Each travel package will be composed according to your wishes. Follow the booking process:

Select a Date
Press “Add to cart” and “Send Request”
When we receive your booking request, you will get an individual offer with some hotels to choose from. Only after your decision, we send you a travel contract to confirm the booking.
Description of the Essential and Superior Package