Four Ballets by John Neumeier: The Little Mermaid / Die kleine Meerjungfrau, Tatiana, Weihnachtsoratorium / Christmas Oratorio and Nijinsky.“Neumeier´s place in the ballet world is as singular as his interpretation of the tale.” (San Francisco Chronicle about The Little Mermaid) “Once again it is impossible not to be impressed by the flawless technique of the ensemble … When at the end Lloyd Riggins tap-dances his way across the stage like Fred Astaire, the Christmas Oratorio is complete.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) “Nearly nobody else besides John Neumeier can tell stories with the bodies of his dancers. Tatiana is three hours of danced poetry.” (Hamburger Morgenpost) “Nijinsky – an inexhaustible topic. Where to begin, where to end?” (John Neumeier) John Neumeier, the artistic director and chief choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet and the longest serving artistic director in the world, will celebrate his 80th birthday on February 24th, 2019.
MSO: Russian Night with Maxim Vengerov
The world-renowned violinist Maxim Vengerov joins the MSO to perform the fiendishly difficult Violin Concerto by Tchaikovsky. Full of soaring melodies, melancholy and virtuosity, this work has rightfully claimed its place amongst the great violin concertos of all time. Scheherazade tells the story of a slave girl having to amuse the gruesome sultan by telling him a new story every night. Several of these come together in Rimsky-Korsakov’s colourful oriental fantasy; a highlight in the Russian orchestral repertoire and the ideal work for an ensemble of virtuosos like the MSO. Allow the MSO to transport you into the world of a thousand-and-one nights.
The Odeonsplatz Concert: Viotti & Wang
The Odeonsplatz is one of the most beautiful places in Munich. The surrounding historic buildings distinguish this location as an open-air arena for about 8,000 spectators. The square is named after a popular concert hall, the Odeon, which was built by Ludwig I of Bavaria in the early 19th century. “Klassik am Odeonsplatz” is a summer highlight in the musical life of the Bavarian capital. Yuja Wang shines in Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, furthermore Lorenzo Viotti conducts popular works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Chabrier, and Ravel. PROGRAM Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol; Chabrier: Espana; Ravel: Bolero
Nijinsky – A Ballet by John Neumeier
„Nijinsky“ is the title of this „choreographic approach“ to a dance phenomenon that has been part of Neumeier‘s life ever since the beginning of his career. During his approximately ten years as a dancer, Vaslav Nijinsky set a new standard both technically and expressively, while in his choreographic work he pointed the way towards modern dance. His personal fate and mental illness that forced him to spend the last 30 years of his life in various asylums and in the keeping of his wife gave his short artistic career an even more aweinspiring and sensational quality. All three aspects – the dancer, the choreographer and the person Nijinsky – form the starting point for John Neumeier‘s latest creation. Neumeier, who as early as 1979 presented a short ballet „Vaslav“, is regarded as one of the leading Nijinsky experts worldwide. Nevertheless, it was not without reluctance that he took up the task of honouring through dance a dance legend: „In creating a work about a historical person, what aspect should we concentrate on? Who was he truly: The man? The artist? Which witness, what information can we trust, which theories should one follow? What point of view can we take towards the complex puzzle Nijinsky? An instinctive choice must be made…“ and sensational quality.