The figure of the Thracian gladiator Spartacus, leader of the slave revolt in the Roman Republic, has inspired numerous works of art and can be found in nearly all artistic genres and representations that have survived over time. Visual arts, theater, literature, ballet, and film have evoked this heroic character perhaps more than art has for any other figure in the universal pantheon. Spartacus symbolizes rebellion, but also the grandeur of freedom. The ballet "Spartacus," composed by the Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, stands out for its unique musicality—a classical ballet, created in a modern style, capturing the mood, tragedy, and lyrical atmosphere of that era marked by the fall of Rome. Beyond the historical context in which the ballet's action takes place, "Spartacus" remains a timeless work that emphasizes values beyond time: courage, dignity, and freedom. see more
A fast-paced farce filled with glorious music, The Marriage of Figaro (in Italian Le Nozze di Figaro) is widely considered to be the greatest comic opera ever written. As the day of Figaro and Susanna’s wedding arrives, it becomes clear that their master, Count Almaviva, is hell-bent on seducing Susanna before the ceremony can take place. Susanna and Figaro conspire with the forsaken Countess to outwit her husband and teach him a lesson in fidelity. But when the teenage Cherubino involves himself in their plans, relationships become severely strained through a series of ever-more confusing twists and turns. see more