Passion cabaret, Toulouse-Lautrec by Kader Belarbi at the Capitole Theater

I wanted red shoes.

I wanted a glass of red.

I wanted Moulin Rouge.

But everything was closed

So I went to the ballet….

The hectic life of the Parisian Albigensian Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and the mastery of the choreographer Kader Belarbi who leads the Ballet du Capitole. When painting and dance intertwine to make the body readable. That of the dancers, that of the Cabaret singers, the Goulue, the prostitutes. That, in perpetual suffering, of the painter.

The leitmotif is explicit and the whole ballet revolves around its different uses. The cane, the absinthe cane of Toulouse-Lautrec, its accessory, its medicine. The cane, threat, relay, support, tutor.

Certain scenes from the ballet can be viewed in virtual reality during certain performances, but I did not make this choice. I wanted real. I got what I wanted.

The women explode in the mouth like the full-bodied notes of a good wine, the men drag themselves at their feet. Skirts are lifted on garters, hats are thrown into the air.

How to Start a Conversation when you have Nothing to Talk About

— CRANER Fri Mar 19 04:22:06 +0000 2021

Because I don't like tutus and classical ballet that much, Kader Belarbi has always been an obvious choice. Former star dancer of the Paris Opera ballet, he directs the Capitole ballet brilliantly, even magically! A great choreographer who makes you forget that ballet can be boring...

The main character is performed in a duet by two dancers, one Cuban, the other Armenian, who had to integrate the dissolute existence of the Albigensian painter, an aristocrat fascinated by brothels and inspired by nocturnal dancing.

It's flamboyant. It's rich. We are amazed and the 40 dancers seem to be a thousand.

We obviously salute the talents of the speakers of this complete and absolute show.

The Music: Bruno CoulaisThe Costumes: Olivier BériotThe Scenography: Sylvie OlivéThe Virtual Reality Production: Luc Riolon (I didn't test it but some liked it!)

Karine Satragno

Capitol Theater