Wuthering Heights - the ballet - closes

The ballet Wuthering Heights, recently on stage at the Opéra de Paris, has just closed. A couple of websites talk about it.
The New York Sun:

"Wuthering Heights," by contrast, is a contemporary ballet with no additional vocal performers. There more scenery, but it is strictly modern in conception. Freestanding windowpanes are rolled around by performers, as is a group of couches. One gnarled tree implies the windy moors, and to indicate a meadow, this production uses a most startling visual effect: As Catherine (Laëtitia Pujol) and Heathcliff (Nicholas Le Riche) tumble at the center of the stage, about three dozen rubberized stones fall down from the sky. Attached are pretty colorful flowers, but the effect of the loud sound on the audience is fear, which is appropriate for the dangerous emotions ahead.
Mr. Belarbi's choreography is within the contemporary ballet idiom, which plays to the strengths of these dancers. Ms. Pujol was lusciously fluid with her upper body in the balletic passages, and unafraid of the silly, childlike running around at the introduction. Though principal dancer Jean-Guillaume Bart — in the role of Edgar (who marries Catherine, thus sparking the life-altering anger of her childhood love, Heathcliff) — was beloved by this audience, the ballet is Mr. Le Riche's. He owned the swooping ronde de jambs en l'aire, barrel jumps, and the smoldering quieter moments.
The success here lay in the swift, smooth transformation of Catherine from a playful girl into Edgar's wife. It's unclear why this happens with Heathcliff onstage wrestling around with the half-wit Hindley (Stéphane Bullion), Catherine's brother, but we're clearly meant to witness the passage of time. The rest of Act I succinctly moves the story along, but Act II, much like a classical ballet, is spent mainly in the netherworld. The spirits, girls in white and on pointe, whirl about. The final scene is devoted to the fall of Heathcliff and the lovers' reunion in death. This takes a considerable amount of time and rolling around on the floor. But when you've got eternity ahead, what's the rush? As with "Romeo and Juliet," there are quibbles to have with the storytelling. But in its intelligent choices and smooth, beautiful choreography, this "Wuthering Heights" shows how ballet can move into the future — without causing everyone to cringe. (Pia Catton)

And Danza Ballet (in Spanish) talks about the plot and details of the ballet. They post several beautiful pictures, like the one on the left of this post (source. Marie-Agnès Gillot (Catherine), Nicolas Le Riche (Heathcliff). Copyright Anne Deniau - Opera National de Paris - Photo Icare)

Categories: Dance, Wuthering Heights