Hope’s Insights on Kismet / Emma Bovary

Our Artistic Director Shares Her Thoughts

Hope Muir

I’m delighted you’ll be joining us for the world premiere of Kismet by Canada’s Jera Wolfe and the return of Emma Bovary by Helen Pickett, both works created for The National Ballet of Canada. Here’s a closer look at these two exceptional creations.

  • Isabella Kinch and Ben Rudisin in Rehearsal for Kismet. Photo by Ted Belton.

Kismet

Kismet marks Jera Wolfe’s first mainstage creation for the company, set to music by Ezio Bosso and follows his 2020 digital creation Soul. In Kismet, Jera is working with an ensemble of 36 dancers to explore the concept of fate in the context of our relationship with nature, merging his rich influences in classical ballet, contemporary movement, breakdancing and Métis culture. Expansive in scale and physicality, Kismet is also an emotional portrait of one individual’s journey toward destiny.

  • Jera Wolfe. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic.

    Jera Wolfe. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic.

Emma Bovary

When Helen Pickett created Emma Bovary in 2023, she gave us a fresh interpretation of Gustave Flaubert’s literary heroine from the inside, illuminating Emma’s psychological struggle between social obligation and personal fulfilment in an entirely new way. This season, Helen and her collaborator, James Bonas, have further developed the narrative with the addition of a character and scene, pulling us more deeply into Emma’s world.

We look forward to sharing this programme with you!

Warmly,

Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director

Kismet is Onstage with Emma Bovary May 29 – June 4.

About The Programme

  • Hannah Galway and Siphesihle November in Emma Bovary. 

    Hannah Galway and Siphesihle November in Emma Bovary. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

Top Photo: Hope Muir. Photo by Ted Belton.