Tchaikovsky

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The Greek National Opera Ballet presents a new fascinating dance performance inspired by the life of the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Distinguished choreographer Cayetano Soto and Dario Suša stamp their mark on a high-intensity performance about the composer’s inner division, conducted by Philippe Forget. The production will run for five singular performances starting from the 14th of February 2025, in the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the GNO at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

The ballet performance titled Tchaikovsky is inspired by the composer’s personal life and thousands of letters published recently, bringing into light his innermost thoughts and feelings. Although we are well aware of the unsurpassable music he composed, it remains largely unknown that the renowned composer did not get to live his life as he had hoped. The composer of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Eugene Onegin, and “Pathétique” Symphony seems to have been torn between the societal conventions of late-19th-century Russian society and his personal desires, struggling to cope with the societal pressure that dominated his entire life until his tragic death.

With their distinct dance vocabulary, comprising nuanced details, Soto and Suša create a ballet inspired by the priceless archival documents that had been kept for many years at the state Tchaikovsky House-Museum in Klin, northwest of Moscow, where the composer had spent the final years of his life. His collection of over five thousand letters was released in 2009 and 2018 in both Russian and English editions, stirring up a significant global interest.

The ballet production Tchaikovsky, which will soon make its Greek National Opera debut, was first performed in Rijeka, Croatia, in February 2023, continuing its successful run in Zagreb (Croatia), Italy, and Germany.

The musical script accompanying the choreography features famous compositions by Tchaikovsky. These include: Hymn No. 6 from the All-Night Vigil, Op. 52, the amazing Finale of the (“Pathétique”) Symphony No. 6, the masterful Elegy from the Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48, the famous Polonaise from Act III of his opera Eugene Onegin, the Canzonetta from the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35, the Scherzo from his Symphony No. 2 (“Little Russian Symphony”), and other pieces. It also features some of the composer’s lesser-known works, as well as pieces that had been banned by the Soviet regime.

The performance will give audiences the chance to discover the real man behind the composer. Through the reading of excerpts from his letters, we will be introduced to his thoughts about music, love, and his relationships, as well as the fears and doubts he harboured about himself. Through narrative choreography presented from an avant-garde perspective, dancers are called upon to handle the piece with exceptional technical aptitude, imagination, and immense sensitivity.

As Konstantinos Rigos, the GNO Ballet Director, notes: “Cayetano Soto, having performed a rich repertoire himself, understands movement well and wants to push dancers to their extremes: both in terms of movement and aesthetic. Through strong references to pop culture symbols and a queer aesthetic, he creates otherworldly but, at the same time, lyrical atmospheres.”

Idiosyncratic choreographer Cayetano Soto, responsible for the work’s choreography and stage direction, remarks: “Tchaikovsky has been almost everything to me as a ballet dancer. I’ve known his music ever since I was a child. I grew up listening to his pieces, and as a dancer, I performed some of his compositions on stage. As a choreographer, I identify with some aspects of his life. Tchaikovsky was a homosexual, yet this is not a gay ballet, and it is definitely not about homosexual rights. It is about everyone’s rights. The performance highlights a message of equality: the colour of one’s skin, gender, nationality, or religion must not cause any pain or discrimination.”

Soto has drawn the attention of the dance community since his debut choreography, (Plenilunio), created for the Bayerisches Staatsballett (Munich) – a piece that earned him the title of “Best Young Choreographer to Watch” from the German magazine Tanz Aktuell. He has collaborated with some of the most important companies worldwide, such as Nederlands Dans Theater, Stuttgarter Ballett, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Ballett Zürich, Compañía Nacional de Danza, Czech National Ballet, Balé da Cidade de São Paulo, Perm Opera Ballet Theatre, and others. He has received the first prize at the “Uncontainable” competition at the Royal Ballet of Flanders for his piece 24FPS, while in 2018 he taught in the modern dance programme “Jacob’s Pillow”.

Dario Suša, who designed the sets, costumes, and lighting, notes: “In Tchaikovsky’s letters, we not only discovered the composer but also the man behind him. We also gained insight into his cultural environment and the sensitive aspect of his nature. Especially his persistent emotions, such as fear and self-doubt. In his letters, he also shares his thoughts about love, music, and relationships with his nanny, teacher, and mother. We wanted to create a ballet where we could release his pain and passion for life.”

Suša began working with Soto in 2015, at first as his representative. Over time, he became increasingly involved in the artistic aspects of the international choreographer’s ballet productions. He has served as an artistic advisor, designer, and –now– co-creator of the Tchaikovsky ballet production. Suša has made an artistic contribution to many of Soto’s creations for the Czech National Ballet, the Ballet of the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse, the Compañía Nacional de Danza (Spain), the Croatian National Theatre (Rijeka), the Leipzig Ballet, and more.

The GNO Orchestra will be conducted by esteemed conductor and composer Philippe Forget, who has been honoured as a Knight of Order of Arts and Letters by the French Republic. The artistic director of the Labeaume en Musiques Festival has performed at the operas of Lyon and Limoges and is regularly invited by the Lamoureux Orchestra, as well as by orchestras across the world, like in Hong Kong, Lorraine, Hudson Valley, São Paulo, etc. He has also participated, in both capacities, in big festivals, including the French May Arts Festival in Hong Kong, GAMO in Florence, and several others in various locations like Edinburgh. In October and November 2024, he conducted the GNO production of La traviata at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall as part of the 59th Dimitria Festival.

Dancers from the Greek National Opera Ballet will perform the highly demanding and challenging choreography.

Fully accessible performances of the ballet Tchaikovsky

The performances of Tchaikovsky will be fully accessible on the 14th and 16th of February 2025, providing an inclusive audiovisual experience for all audiences in collaboration with ATLAS E.P. In this context, there will be designated places for those who rely on captions (CAPS) covering the entire audio channel, as well as seats for individuals who are blind or have limited access to the visual channel of communication and use the audio description (AD) service. Guide dogs for the visually impaired will also be permitted.

The full accessibility services for this production are funded by the Ministry of Culture, as part of the project“SUB.1.1.6 Attracting 65+ individuals and persons with disabilities to events of the Greek National Opera”. This project is implemented as part of the “Greece 2.0 - National Recovery and Resilience Plan” with funds from the European Union-NextGeneration EU.

Audience members who wish to use the accessibility services are requested to purchase their tickets at the GNO Box Office, over the phone at 2130885700, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you need assistance with your reservation, you can also contact ATLAS E.P. at 6993507553 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..