'Carmen Suite' and 'Bolero' captivate audience at Ohrid Summer Festival

As part of the Ohrid Summer Festival in North Macedonia, the ballet performances "Carmen Suite" and "Bolero", based on the music of Georges Bizet and Maurice Ravel, were staged last night by the outstanding artists of Serbia's Madlenianum Opera and Theatre, with choreography by Aleksandar Ilić.

"Carmen Suite", adapted from Bizet's opera Carmen, portrayed the passionate story of Carmen, a symbol of freedom and fate, while "Bolero", presented in the second half of the evening, featured dynamic choreography filled with dramatic tension.

The energy in the hall of the Grigor Prličev Cultural Centre once again demonstrated that the language of theatre—and art in general—knows no boundaries, CE Report informs via the Ohrid Summer Festival's official website.

The idea behind these two ballet productions came from the former artistic director of the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre, Nikola Mijailović, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth and the 150th anniversary of Georges Bizet's death. This year also marked the passing of composer Rodion Shchedrin, making the performances a tribute to all three renowned artists.

Choreographer Aleksandar Ilić places these classical musical masterpieces in a contemporary context, combining virtuoso dance, powerful dramatic expression, and his distinctive choreographic style.

"This production presents a spectacular dance interpretation of two masterpieces, Carmen and Bolero. In my opinion, Carmen has one of the most beautiful musical scores ever written, and the same can be said for Ravel's Bolero. These are two completely different productions. Carmen Suite is created in a neoclassical style that embraces the traditions and choreographic language of classical ballet, while Bolero is based entirely on a contemporary choreographic vocabulary," Ilić explained.

According to him, contemporary dance requires constant dialogue with the audience, the space, and the times in which it is performed.

"I believe contemporary dance is perhaps the branch of art that develops faster than any other, almost like technology. Today, when we speak about contemporary dance, it has evolved so far that almost anything is possible. By mentioning these three elements, I mean that audience participation is essential in every performance. The audience at Ohrid Summer Festival experienced that tonight. Whether a performance is narrative or not is not the key issue. What matters is how you connect with the audience—how they experience not only the dancers' movements but also the texture of the performance, which exists in complete synergy with the music," Ilić said.

The Madlenianum Opera and Theatre has received numerous awards from Serbian professional associations and festivals for its productions of "Carmen Suite" and "Bolero."

Photo Ohrid Summer Festival