“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.
Tatiana – A ballet by John Neumeier
In choreographic episodes, combining dream, memory, premonition and reality John Neumeier’s ballet Tatiana brings to life the story of Tatiana, a young girl brought up in the Russian countryside and her first great love. When considering Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin as a plot for a ballet, it was obvious that Neumeier would not be content with a simple story line. He was more interested in the complex strands of Tatiana’s destiny, the influence of her early life, her experience and evolution into womanhood. As I read Pushkin’s verse novel, I realised that I was fascinated by the role of Tatiana Larina. She became more profound and more interesting with every paragraph, every page that I read. And so I had the idea to explore her role and her perspective in more detail through my ballet”, says Neumeier. “Nearly nobody else besides John Neumeier can tell story with the bodies of his dancers. Tatiana is three hours of danced poetry.” Hamburger Morgenpost