THE womanising exploits of Giacomo Casanova (1725-98) have all but erased from the public consciousness, more praiseworthy facets of the Venetian born adventurer and intellectual.

Northern Ballet distils into a two-hour- long bio-ballet Casanova’s colourful life as trainee priest, musician, diplomat, writer and socialite. However, the prospect of a career in the Church rapidly evaporates when Casanova is caught ‘in flagrante’ with the dubious Savorgnan Sisters, masquerading as respectable convent girls.

By all accounts, Casanova mingled with the great, the good, and the not so good: from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Madame de Pompadour and Senator Bragadin, a Venetian dignatory and socialite who became besotted with him.

Kenneth Tindall, in his first full length ballet, makes Casanova’s life seem such a natural subject. One of many stand-out episodes in this epic piece of dance theatre is Tindall’s flowing choreography of one of the most erotic scenes ever seen in a ballet. This is between Joseph Taylor’s Casanova and Abigail Prudames’s ‘M.M’; an aristocratic nun who seduces Casanova for the gratification of her voyeuristic lover Cardinal de Bernis.

Christopher Oram’s opulent costumes and gilded screens illuminated by pencil thin shafts of light capture the claustrophobia, paranoia, and the decadence of 18th century Venice. Even the processional pomp of a mediaeval Gothic Cathedral with shadowy figures of the Inquisition just visible through a pall of incense awaiting their prey, reeks of decadence and a whiff of terror.

Joseph Taylor’s Casanova radiates a magnetic presence and the entire company of forty dancers create a series of compelling cameos. Kerry Muzzey’s wonderfully cinematic musical score is brought to life by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Daniel Parkinson.

Casanova runs until Saturday 19th March at Leeds Grand. Not to be missed.