Première nord-américaine
Première nord-américaine
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.
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.
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 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.
“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 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.
Chorégraphie :
Christian Spuck
Musique :
Martin Donner, Witold Lutoslawski and Sergei Rachmaninoff
Conception de la scène :
Christian Spuck
Conception des costumes :
Emma Ryott
Conception de l’éclairage :
Martin Gebhardt
Conception vidéo :
Tieni Burkhalter
Sound Collages:
Martin Donner
Première mondiale : Ballett Zürich, Switzerland, 12 octobre, 2014
Première du Ballet national du Canada : Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, 13 juin, 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.
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