Overview

An alluring new Anna Karenina enters The National Ballet of Canada repertoire with this North American premiere and first creative partnership with Christian Spuck. One of Europe’s foremost choreographers, Spuck distills Leo Tolstoy’s richly themed novel about morality, social reform, family and passion into profound choreography that shares the best of his modern yet theatrical style. Complete with lush 19th-century costumes, cinematic projections and a curated score featuring music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Witold Lutoslawski.

Anna Karenina Trailer

The Story

What lengths would you go to for love? This question sits at the heart of Spuck’s ballet, which follows the aristocratic Anna Karenina through an extramarital affair that both liberates and condemns her. Anna’s love triangle with Count Vronsky and her husband Alexei Karenin is the epicentre of a detailed portrait of Russian society in the 19th-century and its parallel stories of love and infidelity. Anna is ostracized for her desire – stripped of her status, separated from her child and driven to suicide – revealing the inequities within her society.

Fast Facts

• Spuck created Anna Karenina for Ballett Zürich in 2014 and it has drawn widespread praise for its powerful storytelling.
   
• Vivien Leigh, Greta Garbo and Keira Knightley are just a sampling of the women who have portrayed Tolstoy’s great heroine, Anna Karenina, in its countless adaptations.
   
• Slender birch trees, opulent society balls and snowy landscapes are part of an evocative design by Spuck’s trusted creative team.
   
• Tieni Burkhalter’s black-and-white video projections of trains feel like a home movie and foreshadow Anna’s derailment and eventual suicide on the tracks.
   
• The score follows the emotional tides of the story, moving from the lyricism of Rachmaninoff to the more strident sounds of Lutoslawski.

Watch and Explore

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The Creator

German choreographer Christian Spuck joined Stuttgart Ballet in 1995 and became Resident Choreographer in 2001. He was Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer of Ballett Zürich from 2012 to 2022 and is now Artistic Director of Berlin State Ballet. Spuck was awarded the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse for best choreography in 2019 for Winterreise.

The Score

The curated score to Anna Karenina is comprised of selections from several 20th century composers including Sergei Rachmaninoff and Witold Lutoslawski, reflecting the complexities and intricacies of Tolstoy’s tragic story.  This juxtaposition in the quality of the music reveals Anna’s inner conflict as she moves towards her unhappy end.

Reviews

“Christian Spuck has an instinct for ferreting out a good story and Anna Karenina is one of the best... Spuck is a choreographer who possesses both intelligence and theatrical flair, qualities which work to great effect in this ballet.” – Critical Dance

“★★★★★/5” – BachTrack

“A feast for the eyes.” – Seeing Dance

Casting

Casting will be announced on our eNewsletter, Ballet News, and on social media and will be posted here approximately two weeks prior to the opening. Please note, casting is always subject to change.

Credits

Choreography:
Christian Spuck

Music:
Martin Donner, Witold Lutoslawski and Sergei Rachmaninoff

Set Design:
Christian Spuck

Costume Design:
Emma Ryott

Lighting Design:
Martin Gebhardt

Video Design:
Tieni Burkhalter

Sound Collages:
Martin Donner

World Premiere: Ballett Zürich, Switzerland, October 12, 2014

The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, June 13, 2025

Lead philanthropic support for Anna Karenina is provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, with additional support provided by The Producers' Circle.

The Producers’ Circle (2025): John &Claudine Bailey, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, The William & Nona Heaslip Foundation, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Jerry Lozinski, O.C. & Joan Lozinski, O.C., The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M. and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation.