Skip to content

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:

Emma’s splendour, joy, self-centredness, cruelty and despair are captured by Peter Salem’s magnificent composition, as interpreted brilliantly by the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Sheenagh Pietrobruno 4 Jun 2026 CriticalDance

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