Under the title “From Petipa to Balanchine”, the Gran Gala de Danza will unite on the Liceu stage a constellation of stars — the kind of dazzling line-up that only happens once in a lifetime. From St. Petersburg to London, from New York to Seoul, from Paris to Houston, from Stuttgart to Barcelona itself, the greatest artists of our era will gather to honor ballet’s eternal flame.
This is not merely a gala. It is a celebration of legacy and renewal — a dialogue between generations, between classical perfection and the vibrant pulse of today’s dance world. The Ballet de Catalunya and the Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, conducted by Andrea Quinn, will join forces under the artistic direction of Leo Sorribes to create a night where the world’s finest dancers will offer the most exquisite gift: beauty itself.
🌹 The Sacred Stage of the Liceu
To see the Liceu once again transformed into a cathedral of ballet, illuminated by the radiance of a new generation, feels like witnessing time fold upon itself. The spirit of Fonteyn’s grace, of Nureyev’s fire, of the great Petipa himself, will surely hover over these two evenings, blessing the dancers who now inherit their mantle.
🌟 A Constellation of Stars 🌟 The Stars Who Will Illuminate the Night in the Rambla Liceu Opera House
The roster assembled for this Gala reads like a dream, each name carrying a story of devotion, artistry, and triumph.
Maria Khoreva — Mariinsky Ballet, St. Petersburg
The jewel of the Vaganova school, Maria Khoreva embodies the essence of Russian ballet: purity, precision, and musical intelligence. She will come to Barcelona shortly after dancing Giselle at the Mariinsky — a role that has become a reflection of her own artistry: fragile, spiritual, luminous. Watching Khoreva dance is like witnessing lace move to the rhythm of a heartbeat.
Sangeun Lee — English National Ballet
From Seoul to Dresden and now London, Sangeun Lee has traced a path of grace and quiet strength. Trained at the Sunhwa Arts Schools, she was a Soloist with the Universal Ballet and later Principal at the Semperoper Ballett Dresden, where her portrayals of Giselle and La Bayadère drew critical acclaim. Since joining the English National Ballet, her dancing radiates an effortless musicality that marries Asian lyricism with European finesse — a rare and delicate alchemy.
Gareth Haw — English National Ballet
From Cardiff comes Gareth Haw, one of Britain’s brightest hopes. Educated at The Royal Ballet School, he ascended swiftly through the ranks of the Semperoper Ballett and, within two years of joining ENB, reached the pinnacle as Lead Principal. With noble line and poetic strength, Haw is the epitome of the modern danseur noble: intelligent, musical, and deeply human in his interpretations.
Chloe Misseldine — American Ballet Theatre (ABT)
New York’s newest star, Chloe Misseldine, is ballet’s whisper of the future. This summer, she captivated the audience of the Metropolitan Opera House with her sublime Swan Lake — a performance hailed as “a revelation of elegance and emotion.” Soon after dancing Nikiya in La Bayadère, she will cross the Atlantic to grace the Liceu stage. Her Odette was pure soul; her Nikiya, a breath of tragedy. In Barcelona, we will witness a young artist on the threshold of legend.
Joo Won Ahn — American Ballet Theatre (ABT)
A perfect complement to Misseldine, the South Korean Joo Won Ahn combines heroic strength with lyrical artistry. Trained at the Korea National University of Arts, his Albrecht and Solor are marked by noble presence and spiritual depth. Ahn’s technique is crystalline, but it is his quiet humility and sincerity that make his dancing unforgettable.
Friedemann Vogel — Stuttgart Ballet
There are artists who define an era. Friedemann Vogel is one of them. Celebrating twenty-five years with the Stuttgart Ballet, he remains the quintessence of classical elegance. Recipient of the prestigious John Cranko Prize, Vogel is a poet of movement — refined, introspective, timeless. His every gesture speaks of a life dedicated to beauty.
Olga Smirnova & Jacopo Tissi — Dutch National Ballet
After their triumphant Romeo and Juliet in Amsterdam this October, the reunion of Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi on the Liceu stage will be nothing short of magic. Smirnova, with her impeccable Vaganova training and emotional depth, is the embodiment of grace. Tissi, her Italian counterpart, dances with noble grandeur and lyrical power. Together they are a symphony of passion and restraint, a dialogue between two cultures united by the same language: the language of dance.
Sarah Lamb & Ryoichi Hirano — The Royal Ballet, London
Hannah O’Neill — Étoile, Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet’s newly appointed étoile, Hannah O’Neill, is the embodiment of elegance reborn. Of Japanese and New Zealand heritage, she unites precision, fire, and serenity in equal measure. Her Giselle at the Palais Garnier was greeted with rapture, and her mastery of Balanchine’s repertory has made her one of the most versatile artists in Paris. In Barcelona, she will bring the luminous spirit of the French school — crystalline, intellectual, yet heartbreakingly beautiful. Hannah O’Neill has conquered audiences with her crystalline technique and inner radiance.
Her Giselle and Aurora at the Palais Garnier were revelations — classical yet alive with emotion. A true specialist in Balanchine, she will bring Parisian chic and Balanchinean brilliance to the Liceu.
Liudmila Konovalova — Vienna State Ballet / Guest Artist
A true Russian jewel, Liudmila Konovalova, trained at the Bolshoi Academy, carries within her the legacy of Moscow’s great classical tradition. Her Odette is a vision of purity; her technique, impeccable. Before arriving in Barcelona, she will appear in London’s Nutcracker and later in Switzerland as Odette/Odile — a testament to her international acclaim. Her presence in the Gala will bring that unique fragrance of Russian romanticism to the evening.
Yuriko Kajiya & Connor Walsh — Houston Ballet
Yuriko Kajiya, born in Aichi, Japan, began her training at eight and became one of the first foreign students at the Shanghai Ballet School. A winner of the Prix de Lausanne, she personifies delicacy, clarity, and integrity. Her partner Connor Walsh, from Virginia, trained at the Kirov Academy and Harid Conservatory, joining Houston Ballet in 2004 and becoming Principal in 2007. Together, Kajiya and Walsh evoke the American romantic ideal — luminous, tender, technically flawless.
Tiler Peck & Roman Mejia — New York City Ballet
From the electric heart of Manhattan comes the most dynamic duo in American ballet today. Tiler Peck, a phenomenon of musical precision and joy, and Roman Mejia, her charismatic partner, will bring to Barcelona the kinetic brilliance of Balanchine’s New York. Their dancing is the embodiment of life itself — quicksilver energy, sparkling rhythm, and the courage to reinvent every phrase anew. Few duos radiate such joy and vitality. Tiler Peck, the radiant muse of Balanchine, and Roman Mejia, her fiery partner, will bring to Barcelona the very spirit of New York: spontaneous, musical, breathtakingly alive. Watching them is to witness rhythm itself made flesh.
Julian MacKay — Bavarian State Ballet
Julian MacKay’s story reads like a modern ballet fairytale. Born in Montana into a family of dancers, trained at the Bolshoi Academy, and polished at The Royal Ballet School, he bridges East and West with ease. Currently a Principal in Munich, he dances Albrecht in Giselle on this very stage in October — a role that marks both his Liceu debut and his artistic homecoming. His return for the Gala will feel like the continuation of a love story between dancer and theatre. Julian MacKay unites Russian discipline with American openness.
Ellen Mäkelä, Paolo Calò & David García Lucas — Ballet de Catalunya
The local spirit will shine through the dancers of the Ballet de Catalunya, led by Ellen Mäkelä and Paolo Calò, both First Soloists, and David García Lucas. They represent the vitality and excellence of Catalan dance today — artists of commitment, intelligence, and technical refinement. Their participation links this Gala not only to the great international houses but also to the creative heart of Catalonia itself.
🎶 The Orchestra and the Repertoire
The composers’ names — Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Yates, Bates, Puccini — form a musical bridge between worlds, uniting Russian romanticism, French lyricism, and modern soundscapes.
💫 A Dialogue Between Centuries
🕊️ An Unforgettable Night Awaits
✨ A Dream for Every Ballet Lover
For us who breathe ballet as if it were air, these two evenings will be sacred.
🩰 The Liceu: A Temple of Memory and Rebirth
🎼 The Orchestra, the Repertoire, and the Dream
Under the direction of Andrea Quinn, the Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu will perform the music that has shaped ballet’s soul: Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Puccini, Yates, Bates — from romantic to neoclassical, from Petipa’s grandeur to Balanchine’s clarity.
Choreographies by Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Lev Ivanov, John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan, Stanton Welch, Leo Sorribes, and Vincenzo Timpa will offer a panorama of styles, eras, and emotions — a living map of ballet itself.
💫 A Dialogue Across Centuries
🕊️ The Promise of an Unforgettable Night
The chandeliers will shimmer, the orchestra will breathe, and when the curtain rises, we will feel the presence of Fonteyn, Nureyev, Petipa, Balanchine — and the pulse of a new century of dance.
