France, somewhere around the time of the French Revolution. A young man evokes the Devil, who tries to tempt him with the usual stuff : military prowess and glory, for instance, or the love of beautiful women. None of this makes much of an impression on the young man, who remains decidely un-tempted. The Devil, however, has recognized a golden opportunity...
I'm surprised to find so little in the way of information or reviews, since this is a minor but interesting ballet with an original intrigue which treats themes such as homo- and bisexuality and the danger of unexamined desire. The music by Gabriel Yared is superb - that tango ! - and all three protagonists give fine performances. (Special praise to the great Alessandra Ferri, who dances and plays her androgynous role with virtuosity, going from boyish boldness and aggression to deeply feminine vulnerability.) The ballet is also notable for its ending : it ends on a deeply ironical note which is both unexpected and inevitable.
If you're able to read French you might want to tackle the novel by Jacques Cazotte which inspired the ballet. (Mind you, it inspired the ballet but very loosely - this is not a close adaptation.) "The Devil in Love" is one of the earliest examples of what was to grow into the horror and fantasy genre we know today.
I'm surprised to find so little in the way of information or reviews, since this is a minor but interesting ballet with an original intrigue which treats themes such as homo- and bisexuality and the danger of unexamined desire. The music by Gabriel Yared is superb - that tango ! - and all three protagonists give fine performances. (Special praise to the great Alessandra Ferri, who dances and plays her androgynous role with virtuosity, going from boyish boldness and aggression to deeply feminine vulnerability.) The ballet is also notable for its ending : it ends on a deeply ironical note which is both unexpected and inevitable.
If you're able to read French you might want to tackle the novel by Jacques Cazotte which inspired the ballet. (Mind you, it inspired the ballet but very loosely - this is not a close adaptation.) "The Devil in Love" is one of the earliest examples of what was to grow into the horror and fantasy genre we know today.
