John Cranko, born in South Africa in 1927, moved to London as a teenager and quickly became a well-known choreographer after a short career as a dancer. In 1961, the artistic director of the Stuttgart Theatre persuaded him to take over the position of creative leader of the then little-known Stuttgart Ballet. Within a short time, Cranko succeeded in making the ensemble one of the most successful companies in the world. None of his works better exemplify Cranko’s artistry than Onegin. The piece, based on Pushkin’s verse novel Eugene Onegin and set to music by Tchaikovsky, premiered at the Stuttgart Ballet in 1965 and remains Cranko’s greatest success to this day and is still on the repertoire of many ballet companies. Cranko condenses Pushkin’s novel into a theatrically effective distillation by focusing the drama on five characters. At the same time, Cranko demonstrates that pas de deux are not only the dance highlights of a ballet, but should also be the driving force behind the plot. The Russian audience was very sceptical when Cranko announced that he would be performing his Onegin at a guest performance in Moscow in 1971. Cranko had ventured into two sacred works of Russian culture, Pushkin’s novel and Tchaikovsky’s opera. But the performance in Moscow became Cranko’s greatest triumph. He died shortly afterwards, in 1973.
John Cranko’s Onegin
John Cranko’s mastery of the art of the pas de deux finds its climax in Onegin, one of the most successful full length ballets of the 20th century. Set to sweeping music by Tchaikovsky, it tells Alexander Pushkin’s tragic love story of the world-weary aristocrat Onegin and the naïve country girl Tatiana in a superbly nuanced way. This very first recording of Cranko’s legendary ballet features world stars Alicia Amatriain and Friedemann Vogel. A must for all lovers of dramatic – and romantic – ballets!
The John Cranko Stuttgart Ballet Collection
Three legendary performances from the Stuttgart Ballet in the choreography of John Cranko: Onegin, Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew. Including bonus conversations on each ballet and three documentaries on the Stuttgart Ballet and its outstanding dancers Marcia Haydée and Friedemann Vogel: Of Miracles and Superheroes – The Stuttgart Ballet, Marcia Haydée – The Seduction to Dance and Friedemann Vogel – Incarnation of Dance. The 3 documentaries are for the first time available on DVD and Blu-ray!
The Stuttgart Ballet Documentary Collection
Three documentaries on the Stuttgart Ballet and its outstanding dancers Marcia Haydée and Friedemann Vogel. MARCIA HAYDÉE – THE SEDUCTION TO DANCE (45 mins) Marcia Haydée – for many the “prima ballerina assoluta” of the 20th century, John Cranko’s muse and long-time director of the Stuttgart Ballet. On the occasion of her 80th birthday, the film pays homage to this unique artist by telling the ballerina’s captivating story. FRIEDEMANN VOGEL – INCARNATION OF DANCE (60 mins) Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, Tokyo’s National Theatre and of course Stuttgart Ballet – Friedemann Vogel, winner of numerous significant dance awards, has conquered the most important ballet stages in the world. This intimate portrait accompanies the luminary of the ballet scene around the world and allows insights into his life as a dancer, the constant training and rehearsals, the loneliness on tour as well as the fear of a career breaking injury. It features interviews with Vogel’s dance partners and role models at the Stuttgart Ballet, such as Marcia Haydée, and excerpts from his performances. OF MIRACLES AND SUPERHEROES – THE STUTTGART BALLET (90 mins) The documentary traces the extraordinary success story of the Stuttgart Ballet, from its rise to fame as the “Stuttgart Ballet Miracle” during the Cranko era to the ensemble’s acclaim of today. Harold Woetzel accompanied the company for one year, capturing the season’s highlights as well as everyday life at the Stuttgart Ballet.
John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet
55 years after its premiere, the Stuttgart Ballet revisits John Cranko’s legendary Romeo and Juliet – the very choreography which laid the foundations for the “Stuttgart Ballet Miracle”, the company’s meteoric rise to fame. In this anniversary performance of the stunning, timeless production, experienced Cranko-performers and highly talented young dancers share the stage to tell the most famous love story of all time. John Cranko, who led the Stuttgart Ballet from 1961 until his death in 1973, created the choreography of Romeo and Juliet especially for his ensemble. Set to the superb score by Sergei Prokofiev, William Shakespeare’s story about two star-crossed lovers, caught in their families’ feuds, offers dramatic roles for the top-notch soloists: Elisa Badenes shines as “youthful, fresh, entirely natural and spontaneous Juliet”, while her partner David Moore dances a Romeo who is “expressing his love with the greatest sensitivity” (Der Neue Merker).
John Cranko’s Onegin
John Cranko’s mastery of the art of the pas de deux finds its climax in Onegin, one of the most successful full length ballets of the 20th century. Set to sweeping music by Tchaikovsky, it tells Alexander Pushkin’s tragic love story of the world-weary aristocrat Onegin and the naïve country girl Tatiana in a superbly nuanced way. Featuring world stars Friedemann Vogel and Alicia Amatriain, this production is a must for all lovers of dramatic – and romantic – ballets. With Onegin, John Cranko secured his place in the pantheon of great 20th century choreographers. He created the three act work for the Stuttgart Ballet – of which he was Director – in 1965 and revised the ballet two years later. Over the last 50 years, the ballet has entered the repertoire of almost every leading ballet company in the world, including the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet in London, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Ballet of the Teatro alla Scala and the American Ballet Theatre. Friedemann Vogel and Alicia Amatriain – the leading couple of the Stuttgart Ballet who have been showered with international prizes and accolades – demonstrate here why they are deemed the elite of the dance world. But it is legendary prima ballerina Marcia Haydee (80 years) who creates the night’s special magic: Once Cranko chose her to be the very first Tatiana in 1965, now she guest stars as nurse; the close bonds between Haydee and the ensemble are palpable throughout and it is a truly touching moment when the original Tatiana meets the current one.“Onegin is the perfect Ballet” (Marcia Haydée); “Onegin is so good, that it can easily hold its own against any Broadway show!” (Newsday)
Friedemann Vogel – Incarnation of the Dance
Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, Tokyo’s National Theatre and many more – Friedemann Vogel, winner of numerous significant dance awards, has conquered the most important ballet stages in the world. A German dancer at the top of the ballet world – this is an absolute rarity. The portrait film accompanies the luminary of the German ballet scene in his everyday life and work; further, it features interviews with Vogel’s dance partners and role models at the Stuttgart Ballet, such as Marcia Haydee, and excerpts from his most recent performances.
John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet
55 years after its premiere, the Stuttgart Ballet revisits John Cranko’s legendary Romeo and Juliet – the very choreography which laid the foundations for the “Stuttgart Ballet Miracle”, the company’s meteoric rise to fame. In this anniversary performance of the stunning, timeless production, experienced Cranko-performers and highly talented young dancers share the stage to tell the most famous love story of all time. John Cranko, who led the Stuttgart Ballet from 1961 until his death in 1973, created the choreography of Romeo and Juliet especially for his ensemble. Set to the superb score by Sergei Prokofiev, William Shakespeare’s story about two star-crossed lovers, caught in their families’ feuds, offers dramatic roles for the top-notch soloists: Elisa Badenes shines as “youthful, fresh, entirely natural and spontaneous Juliet”, while her partner David Moore dances a Romeo who is “expressing his love with the greatest sensitivity” (Der Neue Merker).
DANCE ON!
When one thinks of dance as an art form, images of seemingly endlessly flexible bodies full of beauty, strength and youth inevitably come to mind. But the impression of lightness is deceptive. Dance is hard physical work and, as in high-performance sport, the pressure to perform is high. This takes its toll. With a few exceptions, most dancers have reached their zenith at the age of forty. The duet with their own transience begins and a possible farewell from the stage becomes foreseeable. At the same time, this maturity harbours great artistic potential, for it is their enormous wealth of experience that gives many dancers their magical charisma. The film accompanies the dancers Friedemann Vogel (1st soloist, Stuttgart Ballet), Polina Semionova (prima ballerina, Staatsballett Berlin), William Moore (1st soloist, Ballett Zurich) and Gesine Moog (dancer in Dance On Ensemble, Berlin) on a piece of their journey. All four offer personal insights into their dance careers and reflect on this threshold of “transition”.