Semperoper Ballett at Barcelona Opera House Gran Teatre Del Liceu

Though the history of Semperoper Ballett dates back to 1817, the arrival in 2006 of its present artistic director, Aaron Sean Watkin, revolutionized its style and removed traditional barriers between the classical and contemporary schools by redefining dance as the culmination of both.

An Evening with the Works of William Forsythe is dedicated to one of the most innovative living choreographers. Enemy in the Figure, which is illuminated by a single moving spotlight, is one of his most visually surprising works. In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated explores the true nature of movement by distorting the figures of classical ballet. The dancing has been described by reviewers as energy, sex and virtuosity. The tribute reaches its climax in Neue Suite, a series of pas de deux created for Semperoper Ballett out of adaptations of Handel, Berio, Slingerland, New Sleep and Bach which were premiered by Forsythe between 1977 and 1990.