Marking the centenary of his birth (Marseille, 1927) and the twentieth anniversary of his passing (Lausanne, 2007), La Fenice pays tribute to Maurice Béjart with a ballet trilogy. This performance celebrates the visionary creativity of the great choreographer and the absolute uniqueness of his art – a true milestone in the history of dance. Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of its 1987 foundation, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne will perform three extraordinary creations by Maurice Béjart, each inspired by a musical masterpiece. Among them is Serait-ce la Mort? set to Richard Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder with texts by Hermann Hesse and Joseph von Eichendorff. It is a deep, introspective journey in which a man, on the verge of death, remembers four pivotal women from his life, each tied to a specific moment in his existence. Eliminating the exotic imagery typical of traditional Russian folklore, this rendition of The Firebird – based on Stravinsky’s orchestral suite from the original ballet – pivots toward a revolutionary and universal metaphor: the dancers wear blue unisex uniforms inspired by Maoist China, while in the centre of the scene shines the Phoenix – a symbol of rebirth, love and inextinguishable energy – here embodiment of the ideal of the Partisan. Boléro – based on music from the eponymous composition by Maurice Ravel – is one of the most famous ballets of the twentieth century: the choreography is structured around a central figure (Melody) who dances on a large reddish circular table, around which a group of dancers (Rhythm), initially motionless, gradually lets themselves be infected by the music, until reaching a peak of energy in the end.