Opus is a work of stunning power, virtuosity and poetry. Fourteen acrobats and a string quartet celebrate the music of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. Shostakovich’s quartets are by turns intimate, passionate, lyrical, ironic and deeply moving personal testimonies by one of the 20th Century’s greatest composers. In Opus, three of his quartets form the musical and dramatic spine of a red-hot fusion of extreme acrobatics, lyrical movement and group choreography.
Opus begins from a solo performer suspended on a rope serenaded by musicians, then moves through rapidly alternating scenes of dislocated stillness and violent explosions into geometries of acrobats intersected by extreme physicality to arrive at exquisitely detailed and nuanced choreographies of acrobats flying, balancing and landing.
Opus explores the complex relationships between the individual and the group, between the march of history and the dictates of the heart and between the tragic and the comic. This is groundbreaking work of intense power. A melding of music and bodies at the highest level.
« The combination of risk and physical wizardry seemed a perfect match for the music. As for the Debussy Quartet, their feat can hardly be overstated. To play three quartets – the others were No 5 and No 11 – almost entirely from memory to such a level of intelligence and musicality would already be beyond most players. To do so while walking around barefoot, sometimes blindfolded, with 14 bodies jumping and leaping dangerously just inches away, renders one speechless. The joint trust between all, acrobats and musicians alike, was extraordinarily moving. Shostakovich would have thrilled to every second. »
The Guardian
« Opus is cut-glass, caviar circus. It’s black tie and ballgown circus. And it’s an astonishing thing to watch: graceful, bombastic. Profound. »
The Telegraph
« It is a complex relationship, spatially and dynamically. The musicians walk in and around the action and at times sit blindfolded, sharing the danger and excitement of the frenetic tumbling frothing around them while continuing to play undisturbed (…) But it is Lifschitz’s ability to produce an aesthetic experience from the accumulation of all the components of the show that speaks the loudest. It’sbreathtaking, it is beautiful, it is epic. Not even a trick gone wrong blows the power of the show. An astounding experience. »
The Australian
Program dates
Past dates
28 JUNE 2021
19h00 ShowMossovet Theatre
Moscow (Russia)
Date canceled
27 JUNE 2021
19h00 ShowMossovet Theatre
Moscow (Russia)
Date canceled
26 JUNE 2021
19h00 ShowMossovet Theatre
Moscow (Russia)
Date canceled
25 JUNE 2021
19h00 ShowMossovet Theatre
Moscow (Russia)
Date canceled
24 JUNE 2021
19h00 ShowMossovet Theatre
Moscow (Russia)
Date canceled
30 APRIL 2021
20h00 ShowAuditorium de Lyon
Lyon (69)
Date canceled
19 MAY 2019
18h30 ShowThéâtre Degollado
Jalisco (Mexico)
18 MAY 2019
20h30 ShowThéâtre Degollado
Jalisco (Mexico)
17 MAY 2019
20h30 ShowThéâtre Degollado
Jalisco (Mexico)
12 MAY 2019
20h30 ShowPhilharmonie de Paris
Paris (75)
20 JULY 2018
21h00 ShowIstanbul Music Festival
Istanbul (Turkey)
26 MAY 2018
19h00 ShowTeatre Lliure
Barcelona (Spain)
25 MAY 2018
20h30 ShowTeatre Lliure
Barcelona (Spain)
22 MAY 2018
20h00 ShowTeatro Calderon
Valladolid (Spain)
20 MAY 2018
19h00 ShowTeatro Arriaga
Bilbao (Spain)
19 MAY 2018
20h00 ShowTeatro Arriaga
Bilbao (Spain)
18 MAY 2018
20h00 ShowFundacion Baluarte
Pampelune (Spain)
05 MAY 2018
20h00 ShowSalle Southam
Ottawa (Canada)
28 APRIL 2018
20h00 ShowChan Shun Concert Hall
Vancouver (Canada)
25 APRIL 2018
19h30 ShowHancher Auditorium
Iowa City (USA)
10 APRIL 2017
19h00 ShowMüpa Budapest
Budapest (Hungary)
09 APRIL 2017
19h00 ShowMüpa Budapest
Budapest (Hungary)
31 MAY 2016
20h30 ShowL'Equinoxe
Châteauroux (36)
27 MAY 2016
20h30 ShowThéâtre Raymond Devos
Anglet (64)
26 MAY 2016
20h30 ShowThéâtre Raymond Devos
Anglet (64)
24 MAY 2016
20h30 ShowLa Comète
Châlons-en-Champagne (51)
23 MAY 2016
20h30 ShowLa Comète
Châlons-en-Champagne (51)
20 MAY 2016
20h00 ShowMaison de la culture
Bourges (18)
19 MAY 2016
20h00 ShowMaison de la culture
Bourges (18)
13 MAY 2016
20h30 ShowLe Volcan
Le Havre (76)
12 MAY 2016
19h30 ShowLe Volcan
Le Havre (76)
11 MAY 2016
19h30 ShowLe Volcan
Le Havre (76)
13 MARCH 2016
14h30 ShowHong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong (China)
12 MARCH 2016
19h30 ShowHong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong (China)
11 MARCH 2016
19h30 ShowHong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong (China)
15 NOV 2015
15h00 ShowCiti Schubert Theatre
Boston (USA)
14 NOV 2015
20h00 ShowCiti Schubert Theatre
Boston (USA)
13 NOV 2015
19h30 ShowCiti Schubert Theatre
Boston (USA)
11 NOV 2015
19h30 ShowEisenhower Theatre - University Park
Eisenhower (USA)
08 NOV 2015
15h00 ShowBAM Howard Gilman Opera House
New York (USA)
07 NOV 2015
19h30 ShowBAM Howard Gilman Opera House
New York (USA)
06 NOV 2015
19h30 ShowBAM Howard Gilman Opera House
New York (USA)
05 NOV 2015
19h30 ShowBAM Howard Gilman Opera House
New York (USA)
04 NOV 2015
19h30 ShowBAM Howard Gilman Opera House
New York (USA)
30 OCT 2015
20h00 ShowZellerbach Hall
Berkeley (USA)
29 OCT 2015
20h00 ShowZellerbach Hall
Berkeley (USA)
11 JUNE 2015
20h30 ShowLe Radiant-Bellevue
Caluire (69)
10 JUNE 2015
20h30 ShowLe Radiant-Bellevue
Caluire (69)
09 JUNE 2015
20h30 ShowLe Radiant-Bellevue
Caluire (69)
05 JUNE 2015
20h30 ShowOdyssud
Blagnac (31)
04 JUNE 2015
20h30 ShowOdyssud
Blagnac (31)
28 MAY 2015
20h00 ShowLa Rampe
Echirolles (38)
27 MAY 2015
20h00 ShowLa Rampe
Echirolles (38)
22 MAY 2015
21h00 ShowThéâtre l'Onde
Vélizy-Villacoublay (78)
21 MAY 2015
21h00 ShowThéâtre l'Onde
Vélizy-Villacoublay (78)
13 MAY 2015
20h30 ShowMaison de la culture
Amiens (80)
12 MAY 2015
19h30 ShowMaison de la culture
Amiens (80)
09 MAY 2015
ShowThe Lowry
Manchester (UK)
08 MAY 2015
ShowThe Lowry
Manchester (UK)
29 APRIL 2015
20h00 ShowAnkara Music Festival
Ankara (Turkey)
05 DEC 2014
20h00 ShowScène nationale
Montbéliard (25)
30 NOV 2014
16h00 ShowLe Bateau Feu
Dunkerque (59)
29 NOV 2014
19h00 ShowLe Bateau Feu
Dunkerque (59)
26 NOV 2014
20h00 ShowFestival Tohu
Montreal (Canada)
25 NOV 2014
20h00 ShowFestival Tohu
Montreal (Canada)
23 NOV 2014
14h00 ShowFestival Tohu
Montreal (Canada)
21 NOV 2014
20h00 ShowFestival Tohu
Montreal (Canada)
20 NOV 2014
20h00 ShowFestival Tohu
Montreal (Canada)
16 NOV 2014
19h00 ShowBluma Appel Theatre
Toronto (Canada)
15 NOV 2014
19h00 ShowBluma Appel Theatre
Toronto (Canada)
14 NOV 2014
19h00 ShowBluma Appel Theatre
Toronto (Canada)
13 NOV 2014
19h00 ShowBluma Appel Theatre
Toronto (Canada)
12 NOV 2014
19h00 ShowBluma Appel Theatre
Toronto (Canada)
19 OCT 2014
17h00 ShowMelbourne Festival
Melbourne (Australia)
18 OCT 2014
20h30 ShowMelbourne Festival
Melbourne (Australia)
17 OCT 2014
20h30 ShowMelbourne Festival
Melbourne (Australia)
09 JUNE 2014
ShowFestival d\'Athènes et d\'Epidaure
Athens (Greece)
08 JUNE 2014
ShowFestival d\'Athènes et d\'Epidaure
Athens (Greece)
07 JUNE 2014
ShowFestival d\'Athènes et d\'Epidaure
Athens (Greece)
01 MARCH 2014
19h30 ShowPerth Festival
Perth (Australia)
28 FEB 2014
19h30 ShowPerth Festival
Perth (Australia)
27 FEB 2014
19h30 ShowPerth Festival
Perth (Australia)
26 FEB 2014
19h30 ShowPerth Festival
Perth (Australia)
22 FEB 2014
19h45 ShowBarbican Centre
London (UK)
21 FEB 2014
19h45 ShowBarbican Centre
London (UK)
20 FEB 2014
19h45 ShowBarbican Centre
London (UK)
19 FEB 2014
19h45 ShowBarbican Centre
London (UK)
18 FEB 2014
19h45 ShowBarbican Centre
London (UK)
31 JAN 2014
20h00 ShowGrand Théâtre
Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
30 JAN 2014
20h00 ShowGrand Théâtre
Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
17 NOV 2013
15h00 ShowCirque Théâtre
Elbeuf (76)
16 NOV 2013
20h30 ShowCirque Théâtre
Elbeuf (76)
15 NOV 2013
20h30 ShowCirque Théâtre
Elbeuf (76)
18 OCT 2013
20h30 ShowLa Coursive
La Rochelle (17)
17 OCT 2013
20h30 ShowLa Coursive
La Rochelle (17)
09 OCT 2013
20h45 ShowEspace Jean Legendre
Compiègne (60)
08 OCT 2013
20h45 ShowEspace Jean Legendre
Compiègne (60)
06 OCT 2013
20h00 ShowDüsseldorf Festival - Theaterzelt
Düsseldorf (Germany)
05 OCT 2013
20h00 ShowDüsseldorf Festival - Theaterzelt
Düsseldorf (Germany)
04 OCT 2013
20h00 ShowDüsseldorf Festival - Theaterzelt
Düsseldorf (Germany)
21 SEPT 2013
21h00 ShowFestival Cadences - Théâtre Olympia
Arcachon (33)
15 SEPT 2013
17h00 ShowBrisbane Festival - Powerhouse Theatre
Brisbane (Australia)
14 SEPT 2013
19h00 ShowBrisbane Festival - Powerhouse Theatre
Brisbane (Australia)
13 SEPT 2013
19h00 ShowBrisbane Festival - Powerhouse Theatre
Brisbane (Australia)
12 SEPT 2013
19h00 ShowBrisbane Festival - Powerhouse Theatre
Brisbane (Australia)
11 SEPT 2013
19h00 ShowBrisbane Festival - Powerhouse Theatre
Brisbane (Australia)
10 SEPT 2013
19h00 ShowBrisbane Festival - Powerhouse Theatre
Brisbane (Australia)
02 JULY 2013
19h00 ShowFestival Grec
Barcelona (Spain)
01 JULY 2013
22h00 ShowFestival Grec
Barcelona (Spain)
29 JUNE 2013
21h00 ShowThéâtre de l'Archipel
Perpignan (66)
26 JUNE 2013
20h00 ShowChapiteau-Théâtre
Montpellier (34)
25 JUNE 2013
22h00 ShowChapiteau-Théâtre
Montpellier (34)
24 JUNE 2013
22h00 ShowChapiteau-Théâtre
Montpellier (34)
21 JUNE 2013
22h00 ShowFestival Les Nuits de Fourvière - Esplanade de l'Odéon
Lyon (69)
20 JUNE 2013
22h00 ShowFestival Les Nuits de Fourvière - Esplanade de l'Odéon
Lyon (69)
19 JUNE 2013
22h00 ShowFestival Les Nuits de Fourvière - Esplanade de l'Odéon
Lyon (69)