World premiere staged in Ankara
The Ankara State Opera and Ballet (ADOB) has brought the story of Joan of Arc, the 15th-century French heroine who was burned at the stake, to the ballet stage in Ankara. The production, with both libretto and choreography by Cuban dancer and Kiel Ballet choreographer Amilcar Moret Gonzalez, made its world premiere in the capital. Staged one day ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, the work centers on a powerful female figure.
Choreographer Amilcar Moret Gonzalez said he conducted in-depth research on Joan of Arc’s story during the preparation process and aimed to reflect his recent research on stage. Noting the difficulty of conveying such a story through ballet, Gonzalez said, “First of all, I tried to reflect my recent research on stage. As you know, she was very young when all these events took place. That’s why I wanted to show this in the ballet. Telling such a great story through ballet is actually very difficult. So I tried to focus on certain moments and divided the ballet into scenes.”
Turning points
Gonzalez explained that the work presents the turning points of Joan of Arc’s life scene by scene, beginning with her youth at home and her relationships with friends. He noted that the narrative then progresses to her encounter with the church, her journey to the castle, and her first meeting with the king. He also emphasized that the themes of war and the sense of betrayal that follows are among the key elements of the piece.
The angel figure
Gonzalez said he sought to portray Joan of Arc’s loneliness and sorrow in the finale and introduced a symbolic figure present throughout the ballet. “I always try to find something positive within events. That’s why there is an angel figure throughout the entire ballet. According to the story, she had certain visions. I brought these visions together in a single figure. At the end, you will see her walking toward heaven.”
Women must have a voice
Highlighting the story’s emotional depth, Gonzalez noted that love, hatred, and divine elements coexist within it. “What makes stories beautiful is that they allow you to explore many different emotions and feelings,” he said. Emphasizing the significance of staging the piece just before International Women’s Day, he added, “I hope this will also be a way to celebrate women all around the world. We need to keep working to ensure women have a voice and are heard.”
The choreographer said he had spent the past seven weeks in Ankara and described the experience as unforgettable. “Everyone at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet, from the dancers to the entire team, was wonderful. We also had a very strong working relationship with conductor Tolga. Selecting the music for this project was an important process that we carefully worked on together.”
A story that resonates deeply
Sultan Menteşe, who portrays Joan of Arc in the production, said the character had a profound impact on her because she is a real historical figure. “She is a very brave character. Because it is a true story, it carries a deeply moving emotional weight. We worked very hard to reflect this to the audience in the best possible way.”
A rarely explored subject in ballet
Ebru Gökalp, chief choreographer of the Ankara State Opera and Ballet, noted that a world premiere always carries a certain level of risk but expressed great satisfaction with the final result. She also underlined that Joan of Arc’s story is rarely explored on the ballet stage. Ballet master and assistant choreographer Burak Kayihan added that the work features a challenging choreography blending classical and neoclassical styles, and that all dancers went through an intensive rehearsal process.
Two general directors side by side
One of the notable moments of the premiere was the presence of both the former General Director of the State Opera and Ballet, Tan Sağtürk, and the current General Director, Barış Salcan, watching the performance together. Sağtürk noted that the project had been initiated during his tenure, saying, “We started it, and our new General Director, Barış Salcan, brought it to completion. We are all very excited.” Salcan described the two general directors attending a premiere side by side as a rare moment in Türkiye’s republican history, adding, “We are here together, watching the premiere. We will do our best to raise the bar even higher.”
Music by six composers
Conducted by Tolga Atalay Ün, the production features compositions primarily by Tchaikovsky, alongside works by Bizet, Wagner, Holst, Handel, and Mussorgsky. In the premiere, Sultan Erol performed the role of Joan of Arc, İlhan Durgut appeared as the Angel, Berkay Saraçoğlu as the King, Umutcan Arzuman as the Priest, Özge Soykan as the Mother, and Defne Eren as the Head Nun. Talat Ayhan, costumes by Sevtaç Demirer, and lighting by Ali Gökdemir created the set design. Following its premiere, “Joan of Arc” will continue to be staged at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet on March 28 and April 2, 4, 9, and 11.
