The Reims Opera is gearing up for a unique celebration of Vivaldi’s timeless classic, “The Four Seasons,” reimagined through the art of ballet. Choreographer Thierry Malandain will be presenting his ballet “The Seasons” on Saturday, March 16th at 8:00 PM, and Sunday, March 17th at 3:00 PM at the Reims Opera House. While Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” needs no introduction to classical music enthusiasts, this reinterpretation through dance promises a fresh perspective on the beloved compositions. The event, titled “The Seasons,” marks a significant addition to the Reims Opera’s repertoire this March.
Event Details
Location: 1 Rue de Vesle, 51100 Reims, France
Tickets are available for purchase on the official website: https://malandainballet.com
About Thierry Malandain
Born on April 13, 1959, in Petit-Quevilly, France, Thierry Malandain is not only a renowned dancer and choreographer but also the current director of the National Choreographic Center of Biarritz. Son of Guy Malandain, a civil engineer and French politician, Thierry pursued his secondary education at the Lycée Racine in Paris.
Throughout his illustrious career, Malandain has been recognized with several prestigious awards and honors. He was knighted in the Order of Arts and Letters in 1999 and elevated to the rank of officer in 2010. From 2000 to 2004, he served as the artistic director of the Biarritz Dance Festival “Le Temps d’aimer.” In 2004, he was nominated for the Benois de la Danse in Moscow for his ballet “Les Créatures” and received the Critics’ Prize at the 19th Havana International Ballet Festival in Cuba.
In subsequent years, Malandain continued to garner accolades, including the Culture Award from the Sabino-Arena Foundation in 2005 in Bilbao and another nomination for the Benois de la Danse in 2006 for “L’Envol d’Icare,” created for the Ballet of the Paris National Opera. In 2012, he received the Grand Prix de la Danse from the Syndicat de la Critique for “Une dernière chanson.”
His remarkable contributions to ballet earned him the Taglioni European Ballet Award as the “best choreographer” for his work on “Cinderella” in Berlin in 2014. In 2017, the Malandain Ballet Biarritz was awarded the best Dance Company prize by the Professional Association of Theater, Music, and Dance Critics following the creation of “Noé.”
On April 24, 2019, Malandain, alongside Blanca Li and Angelin Preljocaj, became one of the inaugural members of the “choreography” section of the French Academy of Fine Arts, established by a decree on October 9, 2018. His formal induction into the Academy took place on April 6, 2022, where he was welcomed into Choreography Section Chair No. 1 by his colleague Laurent Petitgirard, perpetual secretary of the Academy and member of the musical composition section. Notably, his ceremonial sword, inspired by the traditional Basque makila, was crafted by the jewelers of Origines Atelier.