Drama, action, character relationships, irony, and a “hidden truth” compelled choreographer Fernando Duarte to present a ballet inspired by the “masterful work” of writer Eça de Queirós (1845-1900), he explained in an interview.
“I never intended to compete with the book, as that work will always win,” Fernando Duarte clarified, asserting that the language of dance can convey emotion and create connection with audiences without words.
Why choose ‘Os Maias’? “For me,” said Fernando Duarte, “it was obvious to choose this as the first work to be made by the CNB into a narrative ballet based on a Portuguese novel because it remains highly relevant today, depicting a way of living and observing life.”
“Eça is an observer of society. This is closely related to ballet, as we share that dual role of being actors and spectators continuously,” commented Duarte, the former head of Companhia Dança em Diálogos, founded in 2018, adapting ‘O Primo Basílio’ (1878), also by Eça de Queirós, and José Saramago’s ‘O Memorial do Convento’ (1922-2010) for dance.
‘Os Maias’ will have nine performances at Teatro Camões until October 26. The ballet will also be presented at the Lódz Ballet Festival in Poland on World Dance Day, April 29, and April 30 at Teatro Wielki w Lodzi.
Fernando Duarte recalled that the idea to invest in classic Portuguese literature has long been in development. It was conceived years before his current role, when he collaborated as a ballet master and choreographer for the company.
“This company must allow itself to initiate a narrative rooted in the classical repertoire of the 18th and 19th centuries. Over time, other companies, especially in Europe, have evolved and discovered new narrative models in dance, turning to legends and universal literary works. In my opinion, CNB has been slow to follow this path, despite our rich and special literary heritage,” he stated.
The director also expressed a desire for “more proposals and ideas from other creators” to emerge from the premiere of ‘Os Maias’, aiming to revive narratives like this, published in 1888, about three generations of a family, focusing on the most recent with a love affair between Carlos and Maria Eduarda, characters apparently led by fate to ruin.
“We are inspired by the magnitude of this work, but we only wish to create a secondary ‘altar’ to bring all this romance, realism, and drama from a raw perspective of the choreographic ability to convey actions and emotions deeply present in the book,” Fernando Duarte told the press.
The choreographer and dancer noted this experience had occurred with a recreation of ‘O Primo Basílio’, inspired by the 19th-century writer in other arts, notably in the paintings of Paula Rego (1935-2022).
“The goal is also to interact and reconnect a society and a diversity of generations with the book, whether those who have read it and may wish to reread it, or those who have never read it and are curious. It’s a way of adding texture and understanding to something that may already be burdened with prejudice, which can only be countered by exploring the work in depth,” said CNB’s director.
The schools’ performance on October 22 “is already sold out,” Fernando Duarte reported, adding that the company has received inquiries from other teachers interested in providing opportunities for students to see the production, which features a cast of over thirty dancers.
CNB’s season “began with three sold-out tours in the north of the country, highlighting the importance of performing beyond its home at Teatro Camões in Lisbon,” noted the director, underscoring that the national company does not belong solely to its Lisbon base.
The musical curation for ‘Os Maias’ is by Andrea Lupi, who selected composers like Belgian César Franck, a contemporary of Eça, and Austrian Maria Theresia Von Paradis from the turn of the 18th century, establishing a timeline for the action.
Leading roles include Francisco Morais, Mário Franco, Aeden Pittendreigh, and Christian Schwarm as Afonso da Maia; Francisco Gomes, Frederico Loureiro, Maria Monforte, Inês Ferrer, and Filipa de Castro as Pedro da Maia; Frederico Loureiro, Lourenço Ferreira, Diogo Bettencourt, and João Costa as Carlos da Maia; and Raquel Fidalgo and Patrícia Main as Maria Eduarda da Maia.
In addition to the artistic program, CNB will offer a parallel program through the Dance Approach Program, with workshops and pre- and post-show discussions involving artists, experts, and audiences.
