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Emma Bovary

A ballet based on Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary focused on the character of Emma Bovary whose romantic ideas of the world are at odds with reality - to catastrophic effect.

Date:
2023
Company:
National Ballet of Canada
Choreographer:
Helen Pickett
Dramaturg:
James Bonas
Composer - Music and Sound:
Peter Salem
Designer:
Michael Giafrancesco
Lighting:
Bonnie Beecher
Animations:
Grégoire Pont
Projection:
Anouar Brissel

Reviews:

I loved Peter Salem's original score which creates an ethereal and haunting feel, crafting an auditory landscape setting the perfect tone for the performance. The inclusion of a ticking clock in the score is particularly effective, infusing each scene with a palpable sense of tension that keeps the audience captivated and on edge. The intricately designed soundscapes play a pivotal role in deepening the drama and emotional intensity of Emma's story, drawing the audience deeper into the heart of her turbulent world.

Deanne Kearney 4 Jun 2026 The Dance Debrief

Peter Salem’s original score is excellent. He is able to capture mood, and the motif of a ticking clock works well to express tedium. His swirling, romantic ballroom music, his menacing Lheureux sections, and his rapturous duet are wonderful. As they say, like hand to glove, score to story.

Paula Citron 4 Jun 2026 ludwig-van Toronto