History of the Hamburg Ballet
The Hamburg Ballet is famous far beyond the city of Hamburg. International tours have made it not only a highlight of the international ballet scene, but also one of Germany's most important cultural ambassadors. John Neumeier directed the company as Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer from 1973 until 2024. Neumeier is a master at combining classical ballet tradition with contemporary forms in his works, while developing a unique personal choreographic language. John Neumeier's lecture demonstrations (Ballett-Werkstatt) are a special feature of the Hamburg Ballet's tradition. During these matinees, which take place on the stage of the Hamburg State Opera several times per season since 1973, the Artistic Director presents, together with the company, specific aspects of the ballet world, new creations or ballet history. Since 1975, the dance festival "Hamburg Ballet Days" has provided the high point and finale of every season. The festival traditionally opens with a premiere of a new work and ends with the Nijinsky Gala, featuring international guest stars as well as the entire Hamburg Ballet ensemble. Although the company performs at the Hamburg State Opera, its creative home, rehearsal venue and educational centre is a separate building, the Hamburg Ballet Centre opened in 1989.
Founded in 1978, the ballet school with its integrated boarding facilities, a pre-ballet department, 8 professional classes including a final 2 years "Theatre Class" program, trains the next generation of dancers.
In August 2024, Demis Volpi took over as Artistic Director of the Hamburg Ballet.
Facts - Names - Dates
- August 14, 1973
First day of rehearsal
- September 9, 1973
First "Ballett-Werkstatt" (Workshop)
(A Sunday morning traditional workshop given by John Neumeier)
- September 30, 1973
First ballet performance of the Hamburg Ballet under the direction of John Neumeier: "Divertimento No. 15", "Allegro Brillante", "Désir", "Jeu de cartes"
- January 6, 1974
First premiere: "Romeo and Juliet"
- May 12, 1974
First world premiere: "Meyerbeer-Schumann"
- June 28, 1974
First tour: Granada – XXIII. Festival Internacional de Musica y Danza
- June 14 - 22, 1975
First Hamburg Ballet-Days
- June 14, 1975
World premiere of the "Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler"
- June 22, 1975
First "Nijinsky Gala"
- January 1, 1978
Foundation of the School of the Hamburg Ballet
- November 5, 1979
The School moves in its own building
- November 13, 1980
"Skizzen zur Matthäus-Passion" (World Premiere)
- June 25, 1981
"Saint Matthew Passion" (World Premiere)
- October 2, 1981
Ballet Gala for the opening of the Theater am Spielbudenplatz (Operettenhaus)
February 14, 1986
Guest performance at the Budapest Opera House on the occasion of the state visit of Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker.
- September 26, 1987
World premiere of the movie and television film "Lady of the Camellias"
- Mai 9, 1988
Benefice-Gala for the Ballett Center
- January 22, 1989
"Peer Gynt" (World Premiere), commissioned score of the composer Alfred Schnittke
- September 23, 1989
Official inauguration of the Ballet Center (4 ballet studios for the company, 5 for the school and a boarding school)
- November 20, 1995
"The Odyssey" (World Premiere), commissioned score of the composer George Couroupos
- May 15, 1998
The Hamburg Ballet website goes online
- June 7, 2007
John Neumeier was named an honorary citizen of the city of Hamburg
- December 1, 2009
40 years Ballet Director John Neumeier.
On December 1, 1969 Ulrich Erfurth appointed Neumeier Director of Ballet in Frankfurt
- September 15, 2011
National Youth Ballet founded
- December 4, 2011
"Liliom" (World Premiere), commissioned score of the composer Michel Legrand
- June 29, 2014
"Tatjana" (World Premiere), commissioned score of the composer Lera Auerbach
- November 10, 2015
John Neumeier was awarded the Kyoto Prize 2015 in the arts and philosophy category
- May 17, 2016
John Neumeier received the renowned "Prix Benois de la Danse" for Lifetime Achievement
- September 6, 2020
"Ghost Light" (World premiere) – A Ballet in the Time of Corona by John Neumeier
First Ballet performance after Corona-Shutdown
- February 14, 2021
50 years ago – on February 14, 1971 –, John Neumeier created his first full-length story ballet in Frankfurt – "Romeo and Julia"
- Season 2022/23
Anniversary season with 50 years of John Neumeier as director of the Hamburg Ballet
- October 20, 2022
On August 1, 2024 Demis Volpi will succeed Professor John Neumeier as artistic director of the Hamburg Ballet and as head of the Hamburg Ballet Centre
Videography
- Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler
- Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler (Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris) - available on DVD
- String Quintet in C-Major by Franz Schubert
- The Legend of Joseph (Vienna State Opera Ballet) - available on DVD
- Scenes of Childhood (Kinderszenen)
- Lady of the Camellias - available on DVD
- Lady of the Camellias (Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris) - available on DVD
- Othello
- Sylvia (Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris) - available on DVD
- Illusions - like "Swan Lake" - available on DVD
- Death in Venice - available on DVD
- Saint Matthew Passion - available on DVD
- The Little Mermaid (San Francisco Ballet) - available on DVD
- Christmas Oratorio I-VI - available on DVD
- Tatiana - available on DVD
- Nijinsky - available on DVD
- Orphée et Eurydice (Lyric Opera of Chicago / The Joffrey Ballet) - available on DVD
- Beethoven Project I - available on DVD
- Ghost Light - available on DVD
- A Midsummer Night's Dream - available on DVD
- Anna Karenina - available on DVD
- Dona Nobis Pacem - available on DVD
- The Glass Menagerie - soon available on DVD
and several "Ballet Workshops" - available on DVD
Bibliography
- John Neumeier Unterwegs
Horst Koegler
Agora (1972)
- John Neumeier und das Hamburger Ballett
Text: John Neumeier | Photos: Joachim Flügel
Christians Verlag (1977)
- John Neumeier Traumwege
Text: John Neumeier | Photos: Joachim Flügel
Christians Verlag (1980)
- Matthäus-Passion - Fotografien und Texte zum Ballett
John Neumeier
Albrecht Knaus Verlag (1983)
- 10 Jahre - John Neumeier und das Hamburger Ballett
Christians Verlag (1983)
- Marianne Kruuse
Hamburger Ballett Verlag Günter Frark (1986)
- Max Midinet
Hamburger Ballett Verlag Günter Frark (1986)
- Beatrice Cordua
Hamburger Ballett Verlag Günter Frark (1987)
- François Klaus
Hamburger Ballett Verlag Günter Frark (1988)
- Colleen Scott - Ivan Liska
Hamburger Ballett Verlag Günter Frark (1990)
- 20 Jahre - John Neumeier und das Hamburg Ballett
Wolfgang Willaschek
Christians Verlag (1993)
- My Favourite Pictures for John
Photos: Holger Badekow
Blackwell Wissenschaftsverlag (1998)
- John Neumeier
Silvia Poletti (Italian)
L'Epos (Italien, 2004)
- Kylián/Ek/Neumeier
Silvia Poletti (Italian)
RED Book Collection (Italian, 2006)
- John Neumeier – In Bewegung
Text: John Neumeier
Edited by Stephan Mettin
Collection Rolf Heyne
- John Neumeier. Bilder eines Lebens
John Neumeier. Images from a Life
Horst Koegler (German / English)
Edel Germany (2010)
- John Neumeier. Trente ans de ballets à l'Opéra de Paris
Jacqueline Thuilleux (French)
Editions Gourcuff Gradenigo (2010)
- John Neumeier in St. Petersburg
Natalia Zozulina (Russian)
Adaborg (St. Petersburg, 2012)
- 50 Years Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier
Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier a.o. (German/English)
Henschel Verlag (2022)