PRESS RELEASE FILIP BARANKIEWICZ Artistic Director of the Czech National Ballet The Czech National Ballet to present John Cranko’s SWAN LAKE in Czech premiere on 28 March 2019 The second new production the Czech National Ballet will premiere in the 2018/19 season is an adaptation of Swan Lake, an iconic ballet and one of the staples of the repertoire of prominent theatres worldwide. John Cranko’s choreography, to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is a breath-taking spectacle, encompassing splendid melodies and dance, sheer classical elegance, virtuoso solo and corps performances, exquisite sets and costumes, a show replete with profound emotions. The Czech National Ballet is the very first large company to have been granted the approval to stage the piece beyond the Stuttgarter Ballett. Photo: Alexandre Katsapov Swan Lake ranks among the most celebrated of all classical ballets, the most frequently performed and the most popular among audiences all over the world. Although at first glance coming across as depicting anything but the prosaic reality of everyday life, the ballet has never failed to touch the hearts of audiences, which has applied to virtually every earnest production. To date, the National Theatre has staged 12 adaptations of Swan Lake, Národní divadlo Ostrovní 1, 112 30 Praha 1, Česká republika, www.narodni-divadlo.cz IČ 00023337, Bankovní spojení: ČNB Praha 1, č. ú.: 2832011/0710 PRESS RELEASE FILIP BARANKIEWICZ Artistic Director of the Czech National Ballet which have been choreographed by Augustin Berger, Achille Viscusi, Remislav Remislavsky, Elizaveta Nikolska, Alexander Romanovich Tomsky, Jiří Němeček, Olga Skálová, Konstantin Mikhailovich Sergeyev, Lev Ivanov, Erich Walter, Růžena Mazalová, Marius Petipa, Vlastimil Harapes, Pavel Ďumbala, Hana Vláčilová and Kenneth Greve. The new Czech National Ballet production will be a revival of the immortal story’s version created by the world-renowned choreographer John Cranko, the founder of the Stuttgarter Ballett, shortly before his premature death. His aim was to render a romantic atmosphere and to incorporate into his piece both the splendour of the concept and a certain degree of intimacy. A true master of epic ballet, in his Swan Lake Cranko provides the dancers with the great opportunity to develop the characters, while placing emphasis on acting and individual freedom of expression. Even though closely linked with the milieu and ballet in Germany, which he himself formed, John Cranko is not unknown in the Czech Republic. His dance idiom was clearly influenced by his having studied at the Sadler’s Wells School in London, as well as his initial professional experience gained at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet. One of the world’s most distinguished choreographers, his accomplishments while serving as the artistic director of the Stuttgarter Ballett have been included in all ballet textbooks, with the company during Cranko’s era having been referred to as the “Stuttgart ballet miracle”. The charismatic artist got together and nurtured a number of young dancers, who went on to become renowned ballet figures: Marcia Haydée, Egon Madsen, Richard Cragun, Birgit Keil and Susanne Hanke, as well as, later on, such renowned choreographers as Jiří Kylián and John Neumeier. In the past seasons, the Czech National Ballet repertoire encompassed two feature-length ballet opuses created by Cranko, inspired by famous literary works – The Taming of the Shrew, based on William Shakespeare’s comedy, and Onegin, based on A. S. Pushkin’s novel, to P. I. Tchaikovsky’s music. John Cranko was a master of storytelling, capable of working with and rendering emotions, which he blended with magnificent dance passages and virtuoso solo performances, bringing great artistic experiences to the audience. The Czech premiere of his Swan Lake will indisputably be a major ballet event in the Czech Republic and within the European context alike. Choreography: John Cranko Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Staged by: Birgit Deharde, Andria Hall Artistic supervision: Reid Anderson Sets: Martin Černý Costumes: Josef Jelínek Lighting design: Pavel Dautovský Projections: Lunchmeat Národní divadlo Ostrovní 1, 112 30 Praha 1, Česká republika, www.narodni-divadlo.cz IČ 00023337, Bankovní spojení: ČNB Praha 1, č. ú.: 2832011/0710 PRESS RELEASE FILIP BARANKIEWICZ Artistic Director of the Czech National Ballet State Opera Orchestra Music prepared by: Václav Zahradník Conductors: Václav Zahradník / Sergej Poluektov National Theatre Czech premiere performance: 28 March 2019 2nd premiere performance: 29 March 2019 The production’s partner is Preciosa Beauty, s.r.o., a company adorning the dancers with its jewellery. A CONVERSATION WITH … on the occasion of the gala premiere Would you like to learn more details about the creation of the production of Swan Lake? If so, come to the National Theatre to see Filip Barankiewicz, the Artistic Director of the Czech National Ballet, who will explain his intention and ideas, as well as how the immortal work came to materialise. The live conversation will be attended by the ballet masters Andria Hall and Birgit Deharde, and Dieter Graefe, the holder of the copyrights to the choreography. 25 March 2019, at 1.30 pm in the foyer on the upper circle of the National Theatre A BALLET WORKSHOP – Swan Lake Preparing oneself for seeing the iconic ballet pays off. We will teach you how to distinguish between the white and black swans, we will focus on the Prince’s love, vow and betrayal. Did you know when Tchaikovsky said he experienced moments of absolute happiness? And did you know that the very first to choreograph Swan Lake was a Czech artist? You can try to turn into swans, we will show you adagio, pas de quatre, fouettées… We will also pay attention to the genius of Tchaikovsky, whose music for Swan Lake is one of the most beautiful ballet scores there are. Meet with the lead protagonists in the ballet studio. The workshop is recommended for adults and children of 5 and older. Price: CZK 180 Where: the Czech National Ballet premises, Anenské nám. 2, Prague 1 January 27, February 24, March 31 and April 14, 2019 MEDIA CONTACTS: Media service: Czech National Ballet: Helena Bartlová, P.R., 224 902 527 Markéta Faustová, [email protected], [email protected] 2media.cz, s.r.o., Pařížská 13, Praha 1 http://www.facebook.com/ndbalet www.2media.cz, www.narodni-divadlo.cz http://www.facebook.com/2media.cz Národní divadlo Ostrovní 1, 112 30 Praha 1, Česká republika, www.narodni-divadlo.cz IČ 00023337, Bankovní spojení: ČNB Praha 1, č. ú.: 2832011/0710 .