Choreographer

“Love is a rebellious bird,” sings Carmen in Georges Bizet’s opera of the same name. In 1992, the Swedish dance legend Mats Ek made Carmen the title character of a ballet for the Cullberg Ballet. He closely follows the novella by Prosper Mérimée on which the opera is based, in which Don José recounts Carmen’s story from his death cell. Playing with classical gender roles, Mats Ek avoids common Carmen clichés and arrives at a profoundly human interpretation. The Australian choreographer Dani Rowe, who now directs the Oregon Ballet Theatre, presents “Vestige,” set to the music of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” in Maurice Ravel’s orchestral arrangement. In episodic visions, people, impressions, and experiences pass before the main character, “Human,” allowing her to draw new strength from her memories.

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Rebel Birds

Opernhaus Zürich

The immortal, impossible love story told from a different perspective. When Mats Ek interprets Shakespeare's classic, the complex conflict is seen through Juliet's eyes.  

Julia & Romeo , in Ek's characteristic interpretation, has become a modern classic about family, love and the fight for freedom. Set to Tchaikovsky's music, arranged by Anders Högstedt, the work has been a success worldwide since its premiere in 2013 when it was created forRoyal Ballet

Juliet & Romeo

Kungliga Operan

«L'amour est un oiseau rebelle», sings Carmen in Georges Bizet’s opera of the same name. Mats Ek, the Swedish dance legend, made Carmen the heroine of a ballet at the Cullberg Ballet in 1992. He based it closely on the novella by Prosper Mérimée, which also forms the basis for the opera, in which Don José tells the story of Carmen from his death cell. Playing with classic gender roles, Mats Ek avoids common Carmen clichés and finds a deeply human interpretation. Another strong female figure is at the center of Dani Rowe’s choreography. After a career as a dancer with the Australian Ballet and the Nederlands Dans Theater, the Australian-born choreographer now heads the Oregon Ballet Theater. She is creating her first choreography for the Ballett Zürich, set to the music of Mussorgsky’s «Bilder einer Ausstellung», in the orchestral version by Maurice Ravel.

Zurich Opera House

Choreographer Mats Ek seized the earthbound power of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring . Fueling his unique, highly theatrical style, he created an exceptional, reworked version of the piece for the Opéra de Lyon Ballet and full Orchestra. This thrilling event starts off with the gloriously vibrating incantations deployed in Sharon Eyal's House.

Choreographer

Mats Ek

Events

Upcoming events

11 - 27 Sep, 2026

Rebel Birds · Opernhaus Zürich

3 - 14 Nov, 2026

The Rite of Spring / House · Opéra National De Lyon

Past events

11 - 27 Sep, 2026

Rebel Birds · Opernhaus Zürich

Feb 18 - Apr 18, 2026

Juliet & Romeo · Kungliga Operan

About

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