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It is within a setting that blends the echoes of bygone civilizations with the luminescence of our modern era that the 2023 edition of the Baalbeck International Festival was inaugurated.
Established in 1956, the Festival has served as a cultural nexus for hundreds of individuals hailing from across Lebanon and around the globe, allowing them to experience a panoply of artistic performances from various troupes, staged amid the columns of ancient Roman temples. The experience is a feast for the senses, entrancing spectators with the enchanting spectacle that unfolds before their eyes and ears.
On the first of July, internationally-renowned dancer Roberto Bolle and his company, established in 2008, astounded the audience, comprised of attendees from all regions of Lebanon who had arrived well ahead of time to ensure they would not miss the virtuosic performance by this Italian troupe whose meteoric rise to success has been breathtaking.
The elegant gestures of the performers from “Roberto Bolle and Friends” seemed to tame the prismatic lights of the spotlights on the temple of Bacchus, providing an unprecedented backdrop for the troupe who has journeyed across Italy.
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Although the troupe has performed in acclaimed venues in Italy, from the Colosseum to the Verona Arena, St. Mark’s Square in Venice, and countless other locations, the performance on the evening of the first of July echoed previous ones. It unfolded in a setting built between the first century BC and the second century AD by the Romans, ancestors of the Italians, as Nayla de Freige, President of the Festival, reminded everyone during her speech ahead of the Italy-sponsored performance.
In perfectly synchronized pairs of dancers, the movements conveyed a dialogue with the elements of earth and sky, their feet grounded to the earth, and eyes always lifted towards the heavens, accompanied by the melodic strains of a violinist perched at the temple’s side.
The final staging of the event was performed by Roberto Bolle himself, engaged in a rhythmic discourse with the earth, the intensity of the music building with the unfolding narrative. Through a choreography tailored to the representation of the blue planet, Roberto Bolle amazed the crowd with a performance reminiscent of Atlas, the Greek Titan condemned to hold up the Earth, amidst the mythical backdrop of Baalbeck.
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Relieved of his burden, the dancer was hailed by the audience with an eruption of applause and a prolonged standing ovation. When it was time to bid adieu to the acropolis, the audience left with radiant faces and hands clapping warmly in satisfaction. It was a powerful kickoff to the International Festival of Baalbeck, which continues until July 16.
Find the Festival’s program by clicking on this link: http://www.baalbeck.org.lb/program-2023/
