Olga Esina and Roman Lazik, Belvedere, Vienna

Vienna State Ballet, ''Wiener Staatsballett'', is considered one of the world's top

ballet companies A ballet company is a type of dance troupe which performs classical ballet, neoclassical ballet, and/or contemporary ballet in the European tradition, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-round bas ...

. It was formerly named the Vienna State Opera Ballet as it is based at the

Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera (, ) is an opera house and opera company based in Vienna, Austria. The 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival venue was the first major building on the Vienna Ring Road. It was built from 1861 to 1869 following plans by August S ...

building. In 2005 the ballets of the Vienna State Opera and the

Vienna Volksoper The Vienna Volksoper (''Volksoper'' or ''Vienna People's Opera'') is an opera house in Vienna, Austria. It produces three hundred performances of twenty-five German language productions of opera, operetta, musicals, and ballet, during an annual s ...

were merged under the name ''Das Ballett der Wiener Staatsoper und Volksoper'' and Gyula Harangozo became the artistic director. On 1 September 2010, a further name change was accompanied by a change in leadership.

Manuel Legris Manuel Legris is a French ballet dancer, born in Paris on October 10, 1964. He was an '' étoile'' (star dancer) of the Paris Opera Ballet for 23 years. On September 1, 2010, he began direction of the Vienna State Ballet. He was appointed artist ...

, former principal dancer with the

Paris Opera Ballet The Paris Opera Ballet () is a French ballet company that is an integral part of the Paris Opera. It is the oldest national ballet company, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. It is still regarded ...

, succeeded as the artistic director.

2010–2011 season

In his first season Legris created all together eight premieres, including the triple bill evening "Juwelen der Neuen Welt" (Jewels of the New World) featuring ballets by

George Balanchine George Balanchine (; Various sources: * * * * born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...

(''

Theme and Variations In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve melody, rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these. Variation techniques Mozart's Twelve ...

'', ''

Rubies A ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum ( aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sap ...

''),

Twyla Tharp Twyla Tharp (; born July 1, 1941) is an American dancer, choreographer, and author who lives and works in New York City. In 1966 she formed the company Twyla Tharp Dance. Her work often uses classical music, jazz, and contemporary pop music. Fr ...

(''Variations on a Theme by Haydn'') and William Forsythe (''

The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude ''The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude'' is a ballet choreographed by William Forsythe (choreographer), William Forsythe to the finale of Schubert's Symphony No. 9 (Schubert), Symphony No. 9. The ballet was choreographed for 's programme ''Six Co ...

''), ''Schritte und Spuren'' (Steps and Traces) with choreographies by

Jorma Elo Jorma Elo is a contemporary choreographer. Early life He was born 30 August 1961 in Helsinki, Finland. His father, Jaakko Elo, is a urological surgeon, mother Ruth Elo née Carlstedt, a dentist. Jorma Elo's partner since 1994 is Nancy Euverin ...

(''Glow – Stop''), Jiří Bubeníček (''Le Souffle de l´Esprit''), Paul Lightfoot and

Sol León Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT; literal translation Netherlands Dance Theatre) is a Dutch contemporary dance dance company, company. NDT is headquartered at the ''Amare'' building in The Hague. NDT also performs at other venues in the Netherlands, ...

(''Skew-Whiff'') and

Jiří Kylián Jiří Kylián (born 21 March 1947) is a Czech former dancer and contemporary dance choreographer. Life Jiří Kylián was born in 1947 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, to his father Václav who was a banker and to his mother Markéta, who was as a ...

(''

Bella Figura Bella is a feminine given name. It is a diminutive form of names ending in -bella. ''Bella'' is related to the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese and Latin words for beautiful, to the name Belle, meaning ''beautiful'' in French. It increased in ...

''), ''

Don Quixote is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'' or, in Spanish, (changing in Part 2 to ). A founding work of Wester ...

'' by

Rudolf Nureyev Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev ( ; Tatar/ Bashkir: Рудольф Хәмит улы Нуриев; rus, Рудо́льф Хаме́тович Нуре́ев, p=rʊˈdolʲf xɐˈmʲetəvʲɪtɕ nʊˈrʲejɪf; 17 March 19386 January 1993) was a Soviet ...

after

Marius Petipa Marius Ivanovich Petipa (russian: Мариус Иванович Петипа), born Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa (11 March 1818), was a French ballet dancer, pedagogue and choreographer. Petipa is one of the most influential ballet masters an ...

, and ''Hommage an Jerome Robbins'' (Homage to

Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...

) including his ballets ''

Glass Pieces ''Glass Pieces'' is a ballet choreographed by Jerome Robbins to music by Philip Glass, costumes designed by Ben Benson, lighting designed by Ronald Bates and production designed by Robbins and Bates. The ballet was premiered on May 12, 1983, at ...

'', '' In the Night'' and '' The Concert'' and the ''Nureyev Gala 2011'' at the Vienna State Opera. At the Vienna Volksoper he brought Patrick de Bana's ''Marie Antoinette'',

Maurice Béjart Maurice Béjart (; 1 January 1927 – 22 November 2007) was a French-born dancer, choreographer and opera director who ran the Béjart Ballet Lausanne in Switzerland. He developed a popular expressionistic form of modern ballet, talking vast th ...

's ''Le Concours'' and the ballet evening "Junge Talente des Wiener Staatsballetts" (Young Talents of the Vienna State Ballet).

2011–2012 season

In the second season three premieres followed in the Vienna State Opera: Pierre Lacotte's ''La Sylphide'', the triple bill evening "Meisterwerke des 20. Jahrhunderts" (Masterpieces of the 20th Century) with

Serge Lifar Serge Lifar ( ua, Сергій Михайлович Лифар, ''Serhіy Mуkhailovуch Lуfar'') ( 15 December 1986) was a Ukrainian ballet dancer and choreographer, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century. No ...

's ''Suite en Blanc'', Nils Christe's ''Before Nightfall'', and

Roland Petit Roland Petit (13 January 192410 July 2011) was a French ballet company director, choreographer and dancer. He trained at the Paris Opera Ballet school, and became well known for his creative ballets. Life and work The son of shoe designer Ros ...

's ''L’Arlésienne'', and the ''Nureyev Gala 2012''. At the Vienna Volksoper he presented a triple bill evening with Vesna Orlic's ''Carmina Burana'', Boris Nebyla's ''Nachmittag eines Fauns'' (Afternoon of a Faun) and András Lukács' ''Bolero''.

2012–2013 season

During the third season three premieres were staged at the Vienna State Opera: Rudolf Nureyev's ''Der Nussknacker'' (The Nutcracker), the quadruple bill evening "Tanzperspektiven" (Dance Perspectives) with David Dawson's ''A Million Kisses to My Skin'',

Helen Pickett Helen Pickett is an American choreographer for stage and film, and has been described as “one of the few prominent women in ballet today”. Early life and education Pickett was raised in San Francisco, California. Her mother is a retired pe ...

's ''Eventide'', Patrick de Bana's ''Windspiele'' (Wind Chimes) and

Jean-Christophe Maillot Jean-Christophe Maillot (born 1960) is a French dancer and choreographer born in Tours. Early life and education He studied at the dance conservatory in Tours before enrolling at the École supérieure de danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower, ...

's ''Vers un pays sage'', and the ''Nuryev Gala 2013''. At the Vienna Volksoper there were also three premieres with Stephan Thoss‘ ''Blaubarts Geheimnis'' (Bluebeard‘s Secret),

's ''Ein Sommernachtstraum'' (A Midsummernight's Dream), and the ballet evening "Kreation und Tradition" (Creation and Tradition).

2013–2014 season

The fourth season brought the three premieres: "Ballett-Hommage" (Ballet Homage) with William Forsythe's ''The Second Detail'', Natalia Horecna's ''Contra Clockwise Witness'' and

Harald Lander Harald Alfred Bernhardt Stevnsborg Lander (25 February 1905 – 14 September 1971) was a Danish dancer, choreographer and artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. Lander was born in Copenhagen. He started as a dancer, studying under ballet ...

's ''Études'', ''

Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...

'' by Rudolf Nureyev after Marius Petipa and

Lev Ivanov Lev Ivanovich Ivanov (russian: link=no, Лев Ива́нович Ива́нов; 2 March 1834, Moscow – 24 December 1901, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer and later, Second Balletmaster of the Imperial Ballet. ...

, and the ''Nureyev Gala 2014''. At the Vienna Volksoper there were two premieres: the double bill evening "Märchenwelt Ballett" with Vesna Orlic's ''Tausendundeine Nacht'' (One Thousand and One Nights), and Andrey Kaydanovskiy's ''Das hässliche Entlein'' (The Ugly Duckling), and ''Ein Reigen'' by

Ashley Page Ashley Page OBE (born August 1956) is a British former ballet dancer, choreographer and was artistic director of Scottish Ballet for ten years. Ashley Page was born in Rochester, Kent in August 1956. Page trained the Royal Ballet School, and joi ...

2014–2015 season

In the fifth season three premieres followed at the Vienna State Opera:

John Neumeier John Neumeier (born February 24, 1939) is an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and director. He has been the director and chief choreographer of Hamburg Ballet since 1973. Five years later he founded the Hamburg Ballet School, which also in ...

's ''Verklungene Feste'' and ''Josephs Legende'', a triple bill evening with

Hans van Manen Hans Arthur Gerard van Manen (; born 11 July 1932) is a Dutch ballet dancer, choreographer and photographer. He studied under Sonia Gaskell and Françoise Adret. Van Manen wrote many ballets. He worked for the Dutch National Ballet from 1973 ...

's ''

Adagio Hammerklavier ''Adagio Hammerklavier'' is a ballet choreographed by Hans van Manen to the ''Adagio'' from Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29, ''Hammerklavier''. The ballet is plotless and danced by three couples. Van Manen made ''Adagio Hammerklavier'' for the ...

'',

Alexander Ekman Karl Wilhelm Alexander Ekman (born 1984) is a Swedish ballet dancer and choreographer. His choreographies have been performed by Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, the Boston Ballet, the Semperoper Ballett, the Nederlands Dans Theater, the Norweg ...

's ''Cacti'', and Jiří Kylián's ''Bella Figura'' and the ''Nureyev Gala 2015''. Three premieres followed also at the Vienna Volksoper: the double bill evening ''Mozart à 2'' / ''Don Juan'' by Thierry Malandain, ''Giselle Rouge'' (Red Giselle) by

Boris Eifman Boris Eifman (Борис Яковлевич Эйфман) (born 22 July 1946, in Rubtsovsk) is a Russian choreographer and artistic director. He has done more than fifty ballet productions. Eifman was born in Siberia, where his engineer father h ...

, and "Junge Talente des Wiener Staatsballetts II" (Young Talents of the Vienna State Ballet II).

2015–2016 season

The sixth season brought another three premieres at the Vienna State Opera: a triple bill evening with Stephan Thoss' ''Blaubarts Geheimnis'' (excerpt) ("Bluebeard's Secret"), Christopher Wheeldon's ''Fool’s Paradise'', and Jerome Robbins' '' The Four Seasons'', as well as Manuel Legris' own choreography of '' Le Corsaire'' and the ''Nureyev Gala 2016''. At the Vienna Volksoper

Michael Corder Michael Corder (born 17 March 1955) is a British choreographer and director. Corder trained at the Royal Ballet School and joined the Royal Ballet itself in 1973. References British choreographers British male ballet dancers 1955 births ...

's ''Die Schneekönigin'' ("The Snow Queen") had its premiere.

2016–2017 season

In his seventh season Manuel Legris showed three premieres at the Vienna State Opera: a triple bill evening with George Balanchine's '' Symphonie in C'',

Edwaard Liang Edwaard Liang (born c. 1975/1976 Also available a. in Taipei, Taiwan) is a Taiwanese-born American dancer and choreographer. He grew up in Marin County, California. Career Liang began studying dance at the age of 5. He entered the School of Ame ...

's ''Murmuration'', and Daniel Proietto's ''Blanc''; a double bill evening with John Neumeier's ''

Le Pavillon d'Armide ''Le Pavillon d'Armide'' is a ballet in one act and three scenes choreographed by Michel Fokine with music by Nikolai Tcherepnin to a libretto by Alexandre Benois. It was inspired by the novella ''Omphale'' by Théophile Gautier. History The wo ...

'' and ''Le Sacre'', and the ''Nureyev Gala 2017''. At the Vienna Volksoper two premieres followed: Thierry Malandain's ''Cendrillon'' (Cinderella), and a triple bill evening with Andrey Kaydanovskiy's ''Der Feuervogel'' (The Firebird), Eno Peci's ''Petruschka'' and András Lukács' ''Movements to Stravinsky''.

2017–2018 season

In his eighth season Legris presented three premieres at the Vienna State Opera: a triple bill evening with Kenneth MacMillan's ''Concerto'',

Wayne McGregor Wayne McGregor, CBE (born 12 March 1970) is a multi award-winning British choreographer and director. He is the Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor and Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet. McGregor was appointed Commander of the ...

's ''EDEN , EDEN'', and Frederick Ashton's ''Marguerite and Armand'';

Edward Clug Edward Clug (born 1973 in Beiuș, SR Romania) is an international renowned choreographer in the field of contemporary ballet and a director of Maribor Ballet. Clug studied classical ballet in Cluj-Napoca.Davide Bombana's ''Roméo et Juliette''.

2018–2019 season

In his ninth season he showed three premieres at the Vienna State Opera: his own choreography ''Sylvia'', a quadruple bill evening with William Forsythe's ''Artifact Suite'', Hans van Manen's ''Trois Gnossiennes'' and ''Solo'', and Jiří Kylián's ''Psalmensymphonie'', and the ''Nureyev Gala 2019''. At the Vienna Volksoper two premieres followed: Pierre Lacotte's ''Coppélia'', and Vesna Orlic's ''Peter Pan''.

2019–2020 season

In his tenth and last season at the Wiener Staatsballett Manuel Legris presents three premieres at the Vienna State Opera: George Balanchine's ''Jewels'', the triple bill evening with András Lucács' ''Movements to Stravisnsky'',

Pontus Lidberg Pontus or Pontos may refer to: * Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea) * Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology * Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...

's world premiere ''Between Dogs and Wolves'', and

Nacho Duato Juan Ignacio Duato Bárcia, also known as Nacho Duato (born 8 January 1957) is a Spanish modern ballet dancer and choreographer. Since 2014, Duato is artistic director of the Berlin State Ballet. Career Nacho Duato studied at the Rambert S ...

's ''White Darkness'', and the ''Nureyev Gala 2020''. At the Vienna Volksoper two more premieres are going to follow:

Mauro Bigonzetti Mauro Bigonzetti (born 1960) is an Italian ballet dancer and choreographer. He trained at the ballet school of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma and entered their company in 1979. In 1983 Bigonzetti joined the Reggio Emilia company Aterballetto, renown ...

's ''La Piaf'', and the triple bill ''Appassionato - Bach und Vivaldi'' with Boris Nebyla's ''Il Prete Rosso'', Eno Peci's ''Monkey Mind'', and Martin Winter's ''Not Another Now''.

References

External links

Wiener Staatsballett
(in English) {{Authority control Vienna State Opera Ballet companies in Austria Culture in Vienna