There are no sorcery or supernatural events in Fredrik Rydman´s interpretation of this Tchaikovsky classic. It is set in the present and Rothbart uses drugs to gain and keep control over his surroundings. The swans in Rydman’s production are prostitutes in white furs and high-heeled shiny hooker boot´s, all completely dependent on Rothbart’s protection and the heroine he supplies them with. In the struggle between good and evil the desire for drugs and love plays a central role. Can true love break the “spell” just like in the original? How does the story end this time? In this production Rydman not only uses the music of Tchaikovsky but also special composed work of a host of Swedish and international pop and rock writers. The show opened in Stockholm dec 2011 and has been on tour since February 2013. So far sold out seasons in Stockholm, Essen, Berlin, Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Paris, Geneva, Linz, Milano, Moscow and London.
Messa da Requiem – Verdi’s Requiem Choreographed by Christian Spuck
With the Messa da Requiem, Christian Spuck brought one of Verdi’s key works on performing stage in his first audiovisual recording since taking his position as Ballet Director at Opernhaus Zurich. In a large-scale co-production by the Ballet and Opera Zurich, Spuck ventured to portray a profound interpretation of Verdi’s funeral mass. He focuses on people who, in their vulnerability and helplessness, are in the search for comfort. Spuck is not at all concerned with a purely dance-like illustration of Verdi’s music, but instead in the contentual-scenic link of the dancers with the soloists and choristers. They act on stage together and take part in ritualized movements and sequences. With Fabio Luisi leading the Philharmonia Zurich, the Opera Choir, and the soloists Krassimira Stoyanova, Veronica Simeoni, Francesco Meli and Georg Zeppenfeld, there is a musical interpretation of some of the most acknowledged artists of our times.
Mats Ek: Julia & Romeo
Romeo and Julia becomes Julia & Romeo when world renowned choreographer Mats Ek presents his full-length work to Tchaikovsky’s music, with its first performance of the Royal Swedish Ballet at the Royal Opera House. ‘It’s time to turn things around,’ says Mats Ek. Also, one of Shakespeare’s originals was in fact named Julia and Romeo. So you can say that this is a return to the story’s source. And to use the music of Tchaikovsky, and not Prokofiev’s, is also a signal. But the drama’s bearing conflict with the young unprotected love versus the established violence, is still there – a tragedy in which love triumphs by going under. Julia and Romeo is Mats Ek’s first major full-length works since Sleeping Beauty made for the Hamburg Ballet in 1996. Music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, in the selection of Mats Ek, adapted by Anders Högstedt.
Jerome Robbins‘ NY Export: Opus Jazz
Shot on location in New York City, NY Export: Opus Jazz takes Jerome Robbins‘ 1958 ‘ballet in sneakers’ and re-imagines it for a new generation in this feature-length scripted adaptation. Starring an ensemble cast of New York City Ballet dancers, Opus Jazz won an Audience Award at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival, and continues to air successfully on PBS’ Great Performances series. Length: Performance: 45′ min + Documentary: 15′ min.
Swan Lake
A magical version of Tschaikovsky’s masterpiece by the Staatsballet Berlin and choreographer Partrice Bart featuring the dream couple of the Staatsballet Berlin, Steffi Scherzer and Oliver Matz.
J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio – Ballet by John Neumeier
“Rejoice, exult” – John Neumeier turns Bach’s Christmas Oratorio into an experience that confronts us all with the most basic questions of trust, hope, faith, doubt and self-sacrifice: “My choreography is not a religious undertaking. We perform to Bach’s music, for a few hours unifying individuals of many different cultural and religious backgrounds. For me, the basic human values expressed through the choreography are always the most important thing. Therefore, in my ballet, Mary is known simply as ‘the Mother’ and Joseph as ‘her Husband’.” “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).
St. Matthew Passion
In 2017 – the year of Luther – Hans-Christoph Rademann and the Gaechinger Cantorey take on Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion, the key work of the Protestant church. The exceptional concert impressively documented the new sound and superb manner of playing on historical instruments, which Hans-Christoph Rademann was able to hone in masterfully with the Gaechinger Cantorey over the course of just one year. In its choreographed version of the St. Matthew Passion, the programme offers new dimensions to Bach‘s musical drama. And, for the one hundred schoolchildren who delved into Bach‘s monumental work and learned to dance as an artistic form of self-expression, it was an opportunity to experience the power of his music first hand. The interplay of professional musicians and young amateurs turned into a creative bridge for all involved.
The Nutcracker
Tschaikovsky’s famous ballet after “The Nutcracker an the Mouse King” by E. T. A. Hoffmann and “A Christmas Carol” by Chales Dickens in an amazing production danced by the Bonn Ballet.
Accent on the Offbeat
In 1992, Jazz at Lincoln Center and New York City Ballet commissioned the famous jazz musician Wynton Marsalis to compose music for a new ballet by choreographer Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief of the NYCB. The film shows the preparation and the perfomance of the ballet.
The Glass Menagerie – A ballet by John Neumeier
Tennessee Williams established his reputation as a prominent American writer of the 20th century through his play The Glass Menagerie, a deeply personal family drama known as a “Memory Play.” Initially staged in Chicago in 1944, the work faced rejection in Hollywood before finding success on Broadway. In 2019, John Neumeier reinterpreted The Glass Menagerie for the Hamburg Ballet, incorporating elements from Williams’ life. The ballet featured music by American composers Charles Ives, Philip Glass, and Ned Rorem, along with snippets from Williams’ own plays. This adaptation marked 75 years since the play’s debut, showcasing the enduring influence of Williams’ work in different artistic forms. The themes of memory, family dynamics, and personal struggles in The Glass Menagerie continue to resonate with audiences worldwide, reflecting Williams’ lasting impact on the literary and performing arts scene.