Overview
Narrative ballet is integral to the history of classical dance and remains a chosen medium for contemporary choreographers who want to develop characters, explore ideas and tell stories in innovative ways. This programme shares excerpts from three 20th century narrative ballets in which power and passion take centre stage: John Cranko’s Onegin, Christopher Wheeldon’s The Winter’s Tale and John Neumeier’s Anna Karenina.
Onegin
Things to Know
- Onegin is an adaptation of Alexander Pushkin’s 19th century novel, Eugene Onegin. It tells of a bored Russian aristocrat who seduces a young woman, Tatiana, only to abandon her shortly thereafter. When they meet again years later, Tatiana has gained enough wisdom and confidence to reject him.
- John Cranko created Onegin for Stuttgart Ballet in 1965 and it entered The National Ballet of Canada’s repertoire in 1984. Two years later, Onegin was filmed for television as a co-production between Primedia Productions and CBC with RM Arts. Directed by Norman Campbell, the film won a Silver Medal at the Houston International Film Festival in 1987.
The Choreographer
Born in South Africa, John Cranko danced with The Royal Ballet and choreographed some of the finest examples of the 20th century story ballet. Works such as Romeo and Juliet, Onegin and Taming of the Shrew are richly characterized, dramatic and musical, and are performed by the world’s top ballet companies.
The Composer
The late 19th century Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed some of the most popular works in the classical repertoire, particularly his three full-length scores for ballet: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. His body of work includes full-length operas, symphonies and concertos.
The Winter’s Tale
Things to Know
- Christopher Wheeldon’s The Winter’s Tale is a 2015 co-production between The National Ballet of Canada and The Royal Ballet based on William Shakespeare’s late play. Wheeldon is also the creator of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, another co-production with The Royal Ballet from 2011. Both feature the music of Joby Talbot.
- Act II takes place in Bohemia, where Perdita (“the lost one”) was abandoned 16 years earlier, unaware of her royal heritage. Florizel, prince of Bohemia and son to Polixenes, is in love with her.
The Choreographer
Christopher Wheeldon is Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet, former Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet and a former dancer with both companies. He is now a multi-award-winning choreographer creating work internationally for ballet, theatre and film. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2016.
The Composer
English composer Joby Talbot has written widely for opera and dance. His collaborations include Wayne McGregor’s Chroma and Entity, and Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Winter’s Tale, both co-productions between The National Ballet of Canada and The Royal Ballet.
Anna Karenina
Things to Know
- Anna Karenina is a 2018 co-operation between The National Ballet of Canada, The Hamburg Ballet and The Bolshoi Ballet based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel of the same name. The story of Anna’s affair with Count Vronsky, and the love story of Levin and Kitty, touches on themes of society, faith, marriage and class.
- Neumeier’s ballet is not a literal retelling of the novel. Instead, the story is condensed into two acts, the setting moved to the present day, and the various thematic concerns distilled into twenty-eight dramatic scenes.
The Choreographer
Born in Milwaukee, John Neumeier is a leading international choreographer with a diverse body of work, much of it focused on preserving ballet tradition within a modern dramatic framework. He was a dancer with Stuttgart Ballet and Director of Ballett Frankfurt before joining The Hamburg Ballet as Director and Chief Choreographer in 1973.
The Composers
The late 19th century Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed some of the most popular works in the classical repertoire, particularly his three full-length scores for ballet: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. His body of work includes full-length operas, symphonies and concertos.
Casting
Onegin
Eugene Onegin
Evan McKie
Tatiana
Svetlana Lunkina
The Musicians of The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra
The Winter's Tale
Perdita
Jillian Vanstone
Florizel
Naoya Ebe
Artists of the Ballet
The Musicians of The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
Heather Ogden
Count Alexei Vronsky
Guillaume Côté
Seryozha
Jack Bertinshaw
The Musicians of The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra
Credits
Onegin
Choreography:
John Cranko
Staged by:
Reid Anderson
Based on the poem by Alexander Pushkin
Copyright:
Dieter Graefe
Music:
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Arrangement and Orchestration:
Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Set and Costume Design:
Santo Loquasto
Lighting Design:
James F. Ingalls
Répétiteurs:
Magdalena Popa, Peter Ottmann, Rex Harrington and Aleksandar Antonijevic
Premiere: Stuttgart Ballet, Stuttgart, Germany, April 13, 1965
The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: June 14, 1984
This production with designs by Santo Loquasto and lighting by James F. Ingalls entered the repertoire of The National Ballet of Canada on June 19, 2010.
Onegin is generously supported by an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.
The Winter's Tale
Ballet in a Prologue and Three Acts
Choreographer:
Christopher Wheeldon
Staged by:
Jacquelin Barrett
Scenerio:
Christopher Wheeldon and Joby Talbot
Music:
Joby Talbot
Designs:
Bob Crowley
Lighting Design:
Natasha Katz
Projection Design:
Daniel Brodie
Silk Effects Design:
Basil Twist
Répétiteurs:
Mandy-Jayne Richardson and Lindsay Fischer
Premiere: The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, London, UK, April 10, 2014
The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: November 14, 2015
A co-production of The National Ballet of Canada and The Royal Ballet (UK)
Lead philanthropic support for The Winter's Tale is provided by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Richard M. Ivey, C.C., an anonymous friend of the National Ballet and The Producers' Circle.
Anna Karenina
A Ballet by John Neumeier
Inspired by Leo Tolstoy
Choreography, Sets, Costumes and Lighting Concept:
John Neumeier
Music:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Alfred Schnittke, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam
Anna Karenina Costumes by:
AKRIS, Albert Kriemler
Scenic Design Collaborator:
Heinrich Tröger
Video and Graphics:
Kiran West
Lighting Reconstructed by:
Ralf Merkel
Assistants to the Choreographer:
Vladimir Kocić and Ivan Urban
Répétiteurs:
Lindsay Fischer, Mandy-Jayne Richardson and Peter Ottmann
Premiere: The Hamburg Ballet, Hamburg State Opera, Hamburg, Germany, July 2, 2017
The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, November 10, 2018
A cooperation between The National Ballet of Canada, The Hamburg Ballet and The Bolshoi Ballet.
Lead philanthropic support for Anna Karenina is generously provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, Richard M. Ivey, C.C., Rosamond Ivey, Margaret Anne Fountain, C.M. and David Glenn Fountain, C.M., and Tim & Frances Price, with additional support from The Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada, The Producers’ Circle and Warren Sorensen in memory of Gregory Williams.
Lead philanthropic support for Spotlight Series is provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, with additional support from the Producers' Circle.
The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M., 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 & Joan Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Harry & Lillian Seymour Family Foundation, Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation.
The National Ballet Orchestra is supported by the TD Bank Group Orchestra Fund and by members of the Music Circle.
The Music Circle: John & Claudine Bailey, Nani & Austin Beutel, Peter & Eleanor Daniels, Jeanie A. Davis, Indra & Rags Davloor, The Thor E. Eaton and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Mary & Graham Hallward, William & Ruth Herridge, Anne & Charles Morison, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., John & Susan Rose, Gretchen Ross & Donald Ross, O.C., Noreen Taylor, C.M., & David Staines, C.M., O.Ont. and The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation.
Photos:
Evan McKie and Svetlana Lunkina in Onegin. Photos by Aleksandar Antonijevic.
Jillian Vanstone in The Winter's Tale. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté in Anna Karenina. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
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