Forever yours
Forbidden love in music, dance and discussion
Julie Calbert
Secret notes are the cornerstone of forbidden love. They invariably end with a passionate signature, such as ‘forever yours’. In Les Boréades, Alphise and Abaris get married, but only after overcoming many hurdles. That love is sometimes far from easy is clearly to be seen in the game of attraction between two male dancers, choreographed by Ali Chahrour. A festival about forbidden love naturally has to include the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. The Antwerp Symphony Orchestra immerse us in Berlioz's interpretation of Shakespeare's drama. Finally, Fleur Pierets breaks the taboo surrounding forbidden love and discusses how love – and especially the position of the woman in an amorous relationship – is commonly represented in classical music.
