Exclusive details from the first show of the new ballet “Anna Karenina”.

Svetlana Zakharova

Photo: Inna Fomina

At the Historic Bolshoi theatre for the press was a show of ballet by the outstanding contemporary choreographer John
Neumeier’s “Anna Karenina”. In the famous scene forty years ago was the eponymous ballet to music by Rodion Shchedrin, which the composer wrote for Maya Plisetskaya. And so was born a new, completely different version of Tolstoy’s novel.

As always, Neumeier joined in its creation, the seemingly incompatible: the music of Tchaikovsky, Schnittke and melodies of country music,
moving around the stage a tractor and modern campaign rallies, leather pants and ballet tutus. Karenin
here turned into the Deputy, the cowboy and the passionate Vronsky not horse
sports, as in the novel, a game of “lacrosse”. But the sense of history this is not
changed: as Tolstoy, Neumeier talks about love — Anna, Vronsky,
Karenina, Levin, Dolly, Kitty. And makes it incredibly shrill and bold. For example, in Opera there is a birth scene of Anna Karenina, extremely emotional.

Choreographer John Neumeier and the press attache of the Bolshoi theatre Katerina Novikova.

Photo: Inna Fomina

Svetlana Zakharova and John Neumeier

Photo: Inna Fomina

This production is a collaboration led by a Large
Neumeier of the Hamburg ballet. In July last year, “Karenina” was shown in Hamburg, and here
now production has moved to Moscow. John Neumeier often
refers in his work to the great literary sources. Among the Russian
writers whose works John brought to the ballet stage — Chekhov and Pushkin (the ballet “the Seagull” and “Tatiana,” he put in the theater. Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko). And, in the words of Neumeier, “Karenina” was the completion of the Russian
trilogy.

For the role of Karenina Semyon Chudin

Photo: Inna Fomina

To ballet on the novel by Tolstoy at the Bolshoi theatre Neumeier has put “a Midsummer night’s Dream” and
“The lady with camellias”. And the creation of a ballet based on Tolstoy’s novel choreographer largely
inspired by the prima ballerina of the Bolshoi, the most famous Russian dancer of our time Svetlana Zakharova. When she asked
the choreographer, he wants to dance in his ballet “Tatyana,” he told the star that Pushkin’s heroine
she is not very suitable. But at that moment I thought that Zakharov would be wonderful
Karenina. And a few years Svetlana Neumeier trusted to dance the premiere of “Karenina” at the Bolshoi on March 23. In this day together with Zakharova leading roles in the ballet will be danced by Denis Rodkin — a long-term permanent partner Svetlana (he will dance with Vronsky) and Semyon Chudin (Karenin).

Photo: Inna Fomina

Neumeier was born in America, but it
creative development took place in Europe. In the 34 years John headed the Hamburg
ballet at the helm of which still stands today. Thanks to Neumeier, the troupe has become one of the brightest in the world.

Speaking before the premiere with the press, Neumeier, as always amazed journalists his youth (a Maestro 78 years!), stressed that his
creation — not the illustration of Tolstoy’s novel that the book, written by Tolstoy, was for him “only the starting point”. By the way, the legendary master was made in “Karenina” as a set designer, costume designer and author
the light of the concept of the play.