The Celtic legend of Tristan and Isolde inspired numerous artists in the broadest spectrum of their activity – from dramatics, poetry, literature and music to fine arts in the widest sense of the word. The topic treated by the ballet performance, conceived as a comprehensive work of art, is based on the idea of romantic love and the thesis of immortality. The SNG Opera in Balet Ljubljana believes that the world on the other side is a glass palace, full of blooming flowers and, simultaneously, the ultimate goal of realisation in the afterlife – a place, where the lovers’ souls meet in the eternity.

Contemporary original music
The ballet is also extraordinary because it is conceived to the original music by the Slovenian contemporary composer Sašo Kalan with the musical fragments from Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde, which was recorded specially for this performance by the Orchestra SNG Opera in Balet Ljubljana. Young choreographer Dan Datcu is responsible for the choreography and Sanja Nešković Peršin for the concept, Meta Grgurevič worked as set designer in collaboration with JAŠA, Barbara Novakovič Kolenc as dramaturge, Jaka Šimenc as lightning designer, while costumes were made by costumer designer Uroš Belantič, currently residing in Paris. The roles of Isolde and Tristan will be assumed by Tjaša Kmetec and Lukas Zuschlag, who will be substituted in some performances by Ana Klašnja and Kento Jamamoto.

Fresh original project
The Tristan and Isolde ballet on the stage of the Ljubljana Opera is an original performance of the Ljubljana Ballet, bringing new excitement and announcing new artistic direction. It is an incredibly interesting and fresh original project with sophisticated choreography conceived to extraordinary music. Tristan and Isolde is the first ballet performance on the stage of the SNG Opera in Balet under the leadership of the new artistic director Sanja Nešković Peršin. Does this show the new direction of the Ljubljana Ballet?

"Lately, we have been more focused on classic projects, so now we have to realise projects that offer new interpretations and values. I want a diverse programme, a touch of contemporary elements and performances that reflect the time in which we live," told us Ms Neškovič Peršin, who was a ballet dancer on the stage of the Ljubljana Ballet for 28 years, gaining thus enough experience to recognise all the potential and all the weaknesses of the ballet theatre. "Of course, the classic repertoire remains, but it must be updated with new approaches in terms of set design and directing," she says.

One of her plans and priorities for the Ljubljana Ballet management is strengthening the creative environment of the ensemble by promoting good teachers, top choreographers, different approaches and creative processes. "My priorities are creativity, passion and challenge. I wish to discover new potential choreographers and enable them to realise new projects. Younger generation must feel that this is their chance," says Ms Peršin and adds that it is necessary to establish contacts with the international environment and to create a network of partnerships.

The Ljubljana Ballet Ensemble is not a ballet ensemble of one of the world's metropolises, so it must "have its own features that will separate it from other similar ensembles in the international environment. It is very important to be ambitious, since only ambition will establish the Ljubljana Ballet as a main ensemble, an explorer and a bringer of new values in the art of dance" concludes Sanja Nešković Peršin.

This season you are invited to attend other ballet performances in addition to Tristan and Isolde. More information is available at www.opera.si/en.

Polona Prešeren, SINFO