For over six decades, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens have stood at the heart of the global dance scene, celebrated for their rare ability to bridge the classical and the contemporary. The renowned Montreal-based company now returns to Athens for three performances — November 7, 8, and 9 at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall — with a vibrant double program choreographed by Italian ballet master Mauro Bigonzetti: The Four Seasons and Cantata.
A decade after their last sold-out appearance at the Megaron, the company brings back its signature blend of technical brilliance and emotional depth, reaffirming its reputation as one of the world’s most expressive and forward-looking ballet ensembles. Founded in 1957, Les Grands Ballets have continually honored ballet’s classical roots while championing new voices and bold reinterpretations that redefine what dance can say and feel today.
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The Four Seasons: Where Human Emotion Meets Vivaldi’s Eternal Cycle
Set to Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic concertos, Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) was premiered by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens on 24 May 2007, to universal critical acclaim. Bigonzetti transforms Vivaldi’s familiar melodies into a kinetic exploration of the human spirit — its shifting moods and impulses.
Each season unfolds through the dancers’ bodies as if mirroring nature itself: the awakening of spring, the exuberance of summer, the decay of autumn, the introspection of winter. With explosive energy, theatrical flair, and humor, Bigonzetti’s choreography marries classical precision with modern freedom — a celebration of dance as pure vitality.
Cantata: A Fiery Homage to Southern Italy
If The Four Seasons speaks of nature’s cycles, Cantata celebrates the pulse of southern Italy — its passions, rhythms, and raw humanity. Inspired by traditional Italian songs and dances, the piece combines live musicians and singers on stage with dancers whose movements capture love, conflict, and community in equal measure.
Tambourines, voices, and bodies intertwine in a work that feels at once ancient and electric, channeling the volcanic spirit of the Mediterranean. A hymn to emotion and connection, Cantata turns the stage into a living celebration.
A Double Program of Virtuosity and Emotion
Together, these two works form a sensory journey across sound, culture, and feeling — from Vivaldi’s crystalline precision to the warmth of Italian folk tradition. Between technical virtuosity and raw emotion, they showcase both Bigonzetti’s choreographic imagination and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ mastery in bringing it to life.
For Athenian audiences, these evenings promise not only the return of one of the world’s most admired companies but also a celebration of dance’s power to transcend borders, languages, and eras.
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
Megaron Athens Concert Hall
November 7, 8 & 9
Tickets available via Megaron.gr
