China / November 2019 (Day 9)

Finally the day of the first performance has arrived! We give a big cheer and lots of appreciation and a huge thanks to our entire technical crew and their colleagues from the lighting department who performed miracles here in Beijing to ensure that the curtain went up on a picture perfect set.

Photos: Roman Novitzky

Make-up artist Lola Khurramova prepares Friedemann Vogel for his role as Onegin

The stage is set for the first act

The desk of the stage manager with the score for the ballet – all around the world, this desk looks very similar…

The technical crew makes a human chain to guide the dancers into the right wing for the high speed entrance and exit of the famous line of jetés in the first act. This ensures that the dancers enter from the correct wing

Character Artist Sonia Santiago surrounded by the dancers from the second act. They are wishing her a Happy Birthday!

Aiara Iturrioz Rico, Matteo Miccini, Alicia Garcia Torronteras and Timoor Afshar as party guests in the second act of Onegin

In the second act of Onegin, we see the genius of John Cranko at work: to portray the somewhat unsophisticated country society in which Tatiana lives, he created a set of old relatives to attend her birthday party. These relatives and friends of the family like to gossip about everything which is going on. These roles are an important part of this act and Cranko was one of the first choreographers to portray all ages on the stage. The Stuttgart Ballet dancers invest alot into these roles: here with Joana Romaneiro, Louis Stiens, Elisa Ghisalberti, Alessandro Giaquinto, Melinda Witham, Martino Semenzato, Sonia Santiago, Adrian Oldenburger, Martina Marin

Friedemann Vogel in all his glory as Onegin

Friedemann as Onegin enters the party and snubs the guests

Onegin dances with Tatiana: Elisa Badenes as Tatiana, Friedemann as Onegin

Onegin becomes annoyed with the old relatives… Elisa Badenes as Tatiana, Friedemann as Onegin

The final pas de deux: Elisa Badenes as Tatiana, Friedemann as Onegin

Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel take a bow after a successful performance

China / November 2019 (Day 8)

It is our third day in China; in the evening is the dress rehearsal of Onegin. Today we want to extend a special thank you to our tour diary photographer Roman Novitzky who is taking the time to document our daily life here for all our fans at home and around the world, although he is dancing in two out of three performances here in Beijing: Prince Gremin on opening night and Onegin himself on Sunday night! Just as an example: during the general rehearsal he stood in the wings in costume and makeup whenever he wasn’t onstage himself to take these wonderful photos of his colleagues! So thank you so much, Roman!

Photos: Roman Novitzky

Happy Halloween! Ciro Ernesto Mansille dresses up for class in a „La Casa de Papel“ mask…

… which amuses his colleagues

Time for the dress rehearsal: Elisa Badenes as Tatiana preparing to write her love letter to Onegin

Tatiana dreams of Onegin: Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel in the famous „mirror“ pas de deux

Tatiana waits for Onegin’s response to her letter: Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel

Onegin asks if the letter is from her: Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel

Onegin is not amused about Tatiana’s letter: Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel

Onegin destroys Tatiana’s dreams by tearing up her letter: Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel

The beginning of the third act: the ball at Prince Gremin’s palace. With Alexander McGowan, Christopher Kunzelmann, Timoor Afshar, Adrian Oldenburger, Mizuki Amemiya, Alicia Torronteras, Daiana Ruiz, Joanna Romaneiro

The ball: Maria Andrés Betoret, Fabio Adorisio, Daniele Silingardi, Fernanda de Souza Lopes

Flemming Puthenpurayil, Diana Ionescu, Noan Alves, Elisa Ghisalberti, Daniele Silingardi, Fernanda de Souza Lopes, Fabio Adorisio, Maria Andrés Betoret

The final, dramatic pas de deux: Onegin has written Tatiana his own letter; he says he loves her and wants her back although she is married to Prince Gremin. Now Tatiana must decide what to do… Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel perform this famous, heart-wrenching scene

China / October 2019 (Day 7)

Dear Tour Diary Readers,

greetings from Beijing! After a long day of travel on Monday, and a much needed day of rest for the dancers on Tuesday – which many spent travelling to the Great Wall of China – class and rehearsals for John Cranko’s Onegin started in the Tianqiao Theatre, home of the National Ballet of China. The theatre was built in 1953 and was the first theatre built in Beijing after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. In 1980, the Stuttgart Ballet performed in China for the first time in this very theatre – with John Cranko’s Onegin. For the celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of the the National Ballet of China, we are returning with this ballet at the special request of our hosts.

Photos: Roman Novitzky and Martí Fernández Paixà

The Tianqiao Theatre

Company class in the studio of the theatre

Artistic Director Tamas Detrich runs the rehearsal of Onegin in the studio

Before leaving Taiwan, rehearsals for Onegin had already begun: here with Hyo-Jung Kang as Tatiana and Roman Novitzky as Onegin (Photo: Martí Fernández Paixà)

Hyo-Jung and Roman in rehearsal for Onegin (Photo: Martí Fernández Paixà)

Hyo-Jung and Roman in rehearsal for Onegin (Photo: Martí Fernández Paixà)

Hyo-Jung and Roman in rehearsal for Onegin (Photo: Martí Fernández Paixà)

The musical notes for Onegin

Anna Osadcenko as Tatiana and Clemens Fröhlich as Prince Gremin in rehearsal for John Cranko’s Onegin

nna Osadcenko as Tatiana and Clemens Fröhlich as Prince Gremin in rehearsal

nna Osadcenko as Tatiana and Clemens Fröhlich as Prince Gremin in rehearsal

nna Osadcenko as Tatiana and Clemens Fröhlich as Prince Gremin in rehearsal

Anna Osadcenko and Clemens Fröhlich with ballet misteress Yseult Lendvai in rehearsal

Hyo-Jung Kang as Tatiana

Taiwan / October 2019 (Day 6)

Impressions from our last day in Taiwan.

Photos: Roman Novitzky

Shaked Heller backstage before the performance

Sonia Santiago applies her make-up before the performance

The gypsies just before act one: Angelina Zuccarini, Daiana Ruiz, Rocio Aleman

Elisa Ghisalberti and Diana Ionescu just before the second act

The ensemble just before the second act

Vitoria Girelli and Joana Romaneiro as Juliet‘s bridesmaids

The famous image of the two feuding families of Montague and Capulet

The beginning of the ball in the first act with Alexander McGowan as Paris, Rolando D’Alesio as Lord Capulet and Jason Reilly as Tybalt

The Capulet’s ball

Jason Reilly in the intermission

Fernanda de Souza Lopes and Vincent Travnicek dancing the tarantella

David Moore as Romeo dreaming of Juliet

Physiotherapist Matthias Knop and Jason Reilly watching the action from the wings

Alessandro Giaquinto as one of the clowns

At the wedding: Anna Osadcenko und David Moore as Juliet and Romeo

Fabio Adorisio as the leading clown with the ensemble during the tarantella

The finale of the tarantella

Looking for a fight: Jason Reilly as Tybalt confronts David Moore as Romeo

Romeo must decide whether to fight or not…

The death of Mercutio: Timoor Afshar as Benvolio, Louis Stiens as Mercutio, Rocio Aleman and Daiana Ruiz as gypsies

Louis Stiens as Mercutio raises his glass one last time

The tears of a clown: Shaked Heller mourning the death of Mercutio

Jason Reilly as Tybalt Tybalt and David Moore as Romeo fighting

David Moore as Romeo at the start of the third act

Anna Osadcenko as Juliet and David Moore as Romeo in their last pas de deux

Anna Osadcenko as Juliet and David Moore as Romeo fighting fate

The last kiss

Alexander McGowan as Count Paris and Anna Osadcenko as Juliet

Anna Osadcenko as Juliet takes the poison

Anna Osadcenko as Juliet decides to take the poison

Minji Nam as a bridesmaid

In the crypt: David Moore as Romeo sees Juliet on her bier

Romeo decides he cannot live without Juliet

Juliet says goodbye to Romeo and to life

The company takes a bow

Louis Stiens, Anna Osadcenko and David Moore say thank you to presenter Tzer-Shing Wang of Art Wave who brought the company to this incredible new theater and ballet to the audiences of Kaohsiung for the first time

Anna Osadcenko and David Moore take a bow

Taiwan / October 2019 (Day 5)

Finally, the day of the performance has arrived! We are proud to be the first ballet company to be performing in this brand new theater which just opened last season and to bring our art form to the audiences of Kaohsiung!

Photos: Roman Novitzky

Company class in the morning starts the day: here with Alessandro Giaquinto, Friedemann Vogel, Daiana Ruiz, Priscylla Gallo and at the piano Catelijne Smit who always gets the dancers motivated with her magical music mix

A big thank you to our main sponsor Porsche AG Stuttgart for the lovely t-shirts commemorating this tour to Taiwan and China!

Notes on stage after class for the whole company

Artistic Director Tamas Detrich and Ballet Mistress Yseult Lendvai giving notes from the dress rehearsal the night before and inspiration for the evening’s performance

The dancers listen attentively

Between morning class/rehearsals and the evening performance, the dancers have a short break. Just enough to do a bit of sightseeing and gain appreciation of Taiwanese culture

Impressions of lovely Kaohsiung…

A quick snack before the performance: yummy dumplings

It‘s show time! Friedemann Vogel applies eyeliner while make-up artist Lola Khurramova styles his hair

Adhonay Soares da Silva deep in concentration while the friendly staff of the theater helps him with his costume

Matteo Miccini warms up on stage before the performance

Elisa Badenes and Matteo Miccini on stage before the performance

Elisa Badenes and Matteo Miccini stretching

Very important: Elisa Badenes‘ pointe shoes which will carry her through the evening

Just before the start of the second act

Christian Pforr und Clemens Froehlich in the tarantella

Sonia Santiago as the nurse and Alessandro Giaquinto as clown

Friedemann Vogel as Romeo dreaming of Juliet

Rocio Aleman as gypsy with Friedemann Vogel as Romeo

Dresser Johanna Doring prepares Friedemann Vogel for the third act

Friedemann on stage at the beginning of the third act

The last pas de deux of Romeo and Juliet: Elisa and Friedemann

Elisa and Friedemann

Romeo with Juliet just before he has to leave her

Martí Fernández Paixà as Count Paris with Elisa Badenes as Juliet

Elisa as Juliet: about to take the potion

Friedemann Vogel, Elisa Badenes and Martí Fernández Paixà: in the crypt, Paris sees Romeo at Juliet’s bier

Juliet prepares to take her life, unbale to live without Romeo

For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo – William Shakespeare

Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel take their first bow after an intense performance of John Cranko’s masterpiece