Interview with 'Casanova'
Ballet isn't all formal and stiff any more. Check out Northern Ballet's new piece, Casanova, which tells the story of probably the sexiest man of all time. We spoke to Giuliano Contadini, leading soloist with the Northern Ballet, who's playing the man himself at the Theatre Royal this week. Oh my, where my smelling salts at?
What is it like to play The Great Seducer?
To be able to play Casanova is hands down amazing and creating the role is an honour. There's nothing like it in the ballet world and I can't wait to perform it on stage!
When did you get cast in your role?
I remember it very well. It was a day like any other; we were rehearsing Beauty and the Beast and I went for lunch with Kenneth Tindall. We talked about the tour, rehearsals...everyday ballet stuff. As I began to make my way back to rehearsals he stopped me. He said that he wanted to be the one to tell me. "It's going to be you; I'm creating Casanova for you." I gave him a big hug and, after the initial shock, let's just say it was hard to stop smiling!
Has your view of Casanova changed since you started working on the ballet?
Casanova was, for me, a symbol of seduction and lust. Working on this ballet, I have learnt that this was just one of the many faces of Casanova. He was a priest, soldier, violinist and spy to name just a few. He spoke many languages and travelled huge distances all over Europe, at a time when a journey that would take one hour today would've taken a whole day. There's so much more to him than a serial seducer, and this ballet will definitely bring that to light.
Have you learnt any interesting facts about him?
I’ve definitely learnt a lot about Casanova. He was so intelligent - he could speak five or six languages. His mother was absent for most of his life, so he taught himself a lot. He was a confident man but he was also troubled. He was very adaptable, charming, and would always make the best out of a situation. He did sleep with a lot of women - but not as many as you think. He always respected women and completely fell in love with them; he wasn’t just a sex pest! Casanova was a lot more rounded and interesting than people think.
How do you prepare for such a famous role like Casanova?
It’s actually quite good when you are creating a role that is well known, because there’s usually a lot of information out there that you can work with – online, in books, or in films. Casanova wrote a whole memoir about his life - what better resource is there than that! We have also been lucky to work with Ian Kelly, an expert on Casanova and the 18th century. During your research it is also important to keep in mind and understand the vision of the production itself.
What are the costumes like?
The costumes are just fantastic; Christopher Oram (Set & Costume Design) did such an incredible job. They bring the 18th century to life with a contemporary and up-to-date look. They’re so interesting - sensual and provocative but classy - and they’re going to look fantastic on stage.
What can audiences expect from Casanova?
In some ways they are definitely going to get what they might expect – there’s lots of very sensual scenes. But I would say to keep an open mind because we do show a different side to Casanova. We portray some of his failures and tragedies as well as some of the great, interesting, sexual and exciting parts of his life. It’s a very big journey, and is fast paced because there’s so much to show. It will be spectacular – you won’t be disappointed.
