Type: Contemporary Ballet
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Choreographer: Julien Lestel
Company: Ballet Julien Lestel
Soloists: Julien Lestel, Maria Stefania Di-Renzo, Gilles Porte
Location: The Opera of Marseille, France
Year: 2014

A series of interconnected tableaux, each evoking one of the composer’s great heroines; Tosca, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, and Mimi. Characters are suggested rather than literal, with dancers shifting fluidly between roles, amplifying emotion. The minimalist visual design supports the choreography: simple costumes in muted tones, expressive lighting that sculpts bodies through light and shadow. This ballet transforms operatic passion into movement, capturing the heart of Puccini’s music.