“Dona Nobis Pacem” – give us peace. This title is of great importance to me – even at the risk of seeming naïve, sentimental or even pretentious. In light of the constant and growing tensions in our world, this thought remains an important aspiration and inspires me to approach Johann Sebastian Bach’s multifaceted composition (Mass in B minor) with conviction. In my 50th season as artistic director, I consider this creation a great opportunity.” John Neumeier A Historic Document The film version of “Dona Nobis Pacem” takes us close to the creative evolution of this ballet. Even though there were very high expectations, John Neumeier agreed for the first time in his career to have one of his ballets filmed during the week of the world premiere. Thus, the film became an impressive document of the outstanding quality of the Hamburg Ballet ensemble. It excels not only in terms of technical brilliance, but also expressive intensity and wholehearted dedication.
Anna Karenina – A ballet by John Neumeier
Thomas Mann once named Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina “the greatest social novel of world literature.” When reading the novel, John Neumeier was deeply fascinated by Tolstoy’s work: not only by the main characters and the plot, but also by the extraordinary variety of thematic connections. It is a story of three families. John Neumeier states: “Tolstoy himself wrote and published ‘Anna Karenina’ as a serial story over a number of years. The feeling in the novel of a developing contemporary narrative – similar to a television series of today – is underlined by the fact that the novel does not end with the death of the title character. My challenge was therefore to give true life and relevance to the story by selecting key emotional situations and essential characters to fit within the framework of an evening-long ballet.“
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – A Ballet by John Neumeier
“During creation, every new ballet seems a possible film. When developing the idea of filming “A Midsummer Night’s Dream“, I insisted on planning a true ballet film which, for me, is completely different than a documentary. I intended to put the audience into the ballet, to bring it closer. Within the three days of recording, we did not schedule a single complete run-through of the work. Instead, we recorded the film in sequences and with exciting camera positions which can be compared to the way one would film a drama. What we really love when watching films, is the immediacy, the vibrancy of the moment. The camera being so close, means that we don’t want the dancers representing something, we don’t want them presenting something, we want them simply being – “now”. We want that spark of truth that springs towards us and that touches us.” John Neumeier In 1977 John Neumeier created one of his most popular ballets for the Hamburg Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream based on William Shakespeare. This production has been invited regularly for guest performances in Europe, Asia, North and South America. The Hamburg Ballet’s archives document more than 300 performances. In addition, the ballet has been produced by prestigious companies such as the Paris Opera Ballet and the Ballet of the Bolshoi.
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.
Dona Nobis Pacem – A ballet by John Neumeier
„Dona Nobis Pacem“ – give us peace. This title is important to me, even at the risk of seeming naïve, pathetic or even pretentious to some. In light of the rampant irreconcilability in our world, this thought provided an important stimulus for me to engage with Johann Sebastian Bach‘s multi-layered composition. In my 50th season as artistic director, I see this creation as a great opportunity. It would be inconceivable for me to create a ballet with the Mass in B minor with another company. Something like this is only possible with a familiar ensemble, which the dancers of my company are in a unique way. (John Neumeier)