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Ballet by John Neumeier, inspired by Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina
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. This prosaic openness in the narrative is underlined by the fact that the novel does not end with the death of the title character. My own version must be confined to the timeframe of a theatre performance. Therefore the period of time until the premiere, beared the interesting challenge of combining as many levels of meaning as possible – in such a way that the audience would be able to intuitionally relate to them."
Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky, Alfred Schnittke, Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam
Choreography, Set, Lighting Concept and Costumes: John Neumeier
Anna Karenina is dressed by A-K-R-I-S- / Albert Kriemler
Assistant for the set: Heinrich Tröger
Video and Graphic: Kiran West
3 hours | 1 intermission
Part 1: 90 minutes, Part 2: 60 minutes
PREMIERE:
The Hamburg Ballet, Hamburg, July 2, 2017
ORIGINAL CAST:
Anna Karenina: Anna Laudere
Alexei Vronski: Edvin Revazov
Levin: Aleix Martínez
Kitty: Emilie Mazon
Alexei Karenin: Carsten Jung
Seryozha: Marià Huguet
A Mushik: Karen Azatyan
Dolly: Patricia Friza
Stiva: Dario Franconi
Lydia Ivanovna: Mayo Arii
Princess Sorokina: Greta Jörgens
ON TOUR:
2018 Baden-Baden
IN THE REPERTORY:
Bolshoi Ballet
The National Ballet of Canada
Supported by the Foundation for the Patronage of the Hamburg State Opera.
A Cooperation with the Bolshoi Theatre and the National Ballet of Canada
The program and the DVD are available in our online shop.
SYNOPSIS
While Alexei Karenin holds a political rally for his re-election in St. Petersburg, Count Alexei Vronsky trains in Moscow with his regiment for a Lacrosse match. Anna Karenina gives her husband support – together with her son Seryozha.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Festival Overture on the Danish National Anthem op. 15]
At home, after the rally, Anna is overcome by a feeling of solitude.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 1 op. 43, Introduzione]
Her brother Stiva telephones from Moscow, asking her to intervene in a serious marriage complication. Dolly, his wife, discovered him with Miss Hull, the children's governess. Anna travels to Moscow, where she accidently meets Alexei Vronsky – a portentous encounter. However, a worker's terrible accident seems a bad omen to her. Dolly and Stiva quarrel. Anna comforts Dolly and the children.
[Alfred Schnittke: Two Short Pieces for organ, No. 1
Peter Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 1, Fuga]
In the country, the aristocratic landowner Levin dreams of Kitty – Dolly's sister.
[Cat Stevens: Moonshadow]
In Moscow, Kitty, with her young friends, celebrates her engagement to Count Vronsky. Anna accompanies Dolly and Stiva to the party and again encounters Count Vronsky. Flirtation.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 1, Divertimento – Intermezzo]
Anna plays with her son Seryozha.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 1, Marche Miniature]
Her thoughts of Vronsky become passionate.
[Alfred Schnittke: Commissar, Attack – Love]
Alexei Karenin, Anna and Seryozha attend Count Vronsky's Lacrosse match. Before the game, Anna tells Vronsky that she is pregnant. Distracted during the game, he is injured. Anna's desperate reaction to the accident makes their relationship clear.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 1, Scherzo
Alfred Schnittke: Film Suite "Story of an Unknown Actor", Title Song Alfred Schnittke: Glass Harmonica, Faces – Flights – Pyramids]
Kitty has had a nervous breakdown. Levin visits her in the sanatorium.
[Cat Stevens: Sad Lisa
Peter Tchaikovsky: The Snow Maiden op. 12, No. 10: Melodrama]
Stiva continues his indiscretions – now with dancers from the Bolshoi Theatre.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 1, Gavotte]
Dolly is determined to abandon her family, but her children change her mind.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1, Andante cantabile, arrangement for string orchestra by José Serebrie]
Anna gives birth to Vronsky's child – who is also called Anna.
[Alfred Schnittke: Commissar, Trek Of The Damned]
Near death, Anna attempts to reconcile Vronsky with her husband.
Kitty marries Levin.
Anna abandons her family to be with Count Vronsky. Karenin is left alone with the child Anna.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony, Allegro con fuoco]
Happy in Italy with Count Vronsky, thoughts of her son Seryozha haunt Anna.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence, Adagio Cantabile e con moto]
A recurring dream of the ominous worker killed during their first encounter, trouble both Vronsky and Anna. A shadow seems to fall over their relationship.
[Alfred Schnittke: Glass Harmonica, Faces – Flights – Pyramids]
Anna returns to St. Petersburg for Seryozha's birthday.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 op. 11, Andante cantabile]
Karenin is comforted by Lidia Ivanovna.
[Peter Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 4 op. 61, Preghiera]
Levin and Kitty enjoy a morning in the country.
[Cat Stevens: Morning Has Broken
Peter Tchaikovsky: The Snow Maiden op. 12, No. 10: Melodrama]
The relationship between Anna and Vronsky continues to deteriorate. Frustrated by her isolation, Anna decides to visit the opera for a performance of Eugene Onegin. She is insulted by Moscow society and observes Count Vronsky with the young princess Sorokina. Only Dolly supports Anna.
[Alfred Schnittke: (K)ein Sommernachtstraum
Peter Tchaikovsky: Eugen Onegin, Letter Scene (Fragment)]
Doubting Vronsky's complete and unconditional love, Anna, in desperation, takes her own life.
[Alfred Schnittke: The Ascent, On The Sled – Remorse]
Vronsky mourns her death.
In Moscow, in St. Petersburg, in the country – and in the theatre – life goes on.
[Alfred Schnittke: Glass Harmonica, The Awakening
Cat Stevens: One Day At A Time]
