Japan / November 2018 (Day 20 and 21)

After an unforgettable last Swan Lake performance in the Hyogo Performing Arts Center in Nishinomiya our colleagues from the technical, make-up and costume departments packed everything together so we could leave for Osaka airport early on Sunday morning. We reached Stuttgart safe and sound and indulge in reminiscences of the past three weeks with these final photos of our last performance, before rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet start here in Stuttgart next week. A huge thank you to NBS for inviting us to the land of the rising sun, the warm welcome in Japan and for their world class organizational and people skills! Sayonara!

Photos: Roman Novitzky

Anticipation of the last performance: Alexander Mc Gowan, Matteo Crockard-Villa, Clemens Fröhlich, Cédric Rupp, Adrian Oldenburger und Daniele Silingardi in their dressing room

Time for a quick break before the performance: Timoor Afshar, Matteo Miccini, Sonia Santiago and Alessandro Giaquinto

Prince Siegfried discovering the swans for the first time

Alicia Amatriain as Odette and Friedemann Vogel as Prince Siegfried in the second act

Alicia watching the corps de ballet swans from the wings

Alicia protecting her swans

The little Swans Jessica Fyfe, Aiara Iturrioz Rico, Fernanda De Souza Lopes and Angelina Zuccarini

Fun backstage: Jessica Fyfe and Fernanda De Souza Lopes

Alicia and Friedemann, as seen through a curtain of swans

Final applause in Japan!

Even in Nishinomiya autograph hunters are waiting for Alicia and Friedemann at the stage entrance

Japan Tour / November 2018 (Day 19)

Kobe turns out to be a delightful city and presents itself to us from its best side. The morning after our arrival dawns with brilliant sunshine and balmy temperatures which inspires many dancers to take a stroll along the water as our hotel lies directly at the harbor which also provides spectacular views from our hotel rooms. Downtown Kobe is just five minutes away on foot and is filled with good restaurants, attractive bars and coffee houses, wonderful bakeries, upscale stores as well as small boutiques and arcades filled with stores for every wallet. The Hyogo Performing Arts Center lies in the next town over, and is a modern, spacious, state of the art theater. We travel between the two cities via a local commuter train which provides insight into the daily life of the local population. Of course, everyone is also working! Class, rehearsals, set up and unpacking run along smoothly. This afternoon the last performance will take place; tomorrow morning our bus departs for the airport at 5:45 am. As today is our tour diary photographer Roman Novitzky’s birthday and as he is also performing today, there will not be an entry in our tour diary tomorrow. Which is why we would like to take the opportunity now to say thank you to Roman for his amazing, unflagging work and of course we wish him a very happy birthday. And of course a huge toi, toi, toi to him, Alicia Amatriain, Friedemann Vogel and the whole company for the last performance of this highly successful tour.

Photos: Roman Novitzky

Auditorium of the Hyogo Performing Arts Center as seen from the stage during the set up

The view from the other side: the technical crew sets up the stage

Rehearsal in the spacious studio of the theater

The swans rehearse in the studio

Swan consultations

Veronika Verterich and Diana Ionescu rehearsing the pas de six as ballet masters Yseult Lendvai, Rolando D’Alesio, Andria Hall and Krzysztof Nowogrodzki watch

A further insight into the rehearsal

Alicia and Friedemann rehearse

Alicia and Friedemann

Alexander Mc Gowan reprises his famous commuter moment

Kobe by night as seen from the hotel

Japan Tour / November 2018 (Day 12)

Our second Swan Lake performance took place yesterday before a full house. Not only our Kammertaenzer Alicia Amatriain und Friedemann Vogel, also the whole company provided an unforgettable performance. Highly concentrated and with great intensity John Cranko’s tragic love story was brought to life with dancing on the highest level. Bravo!

Photos: Roman Novitzky

With her crown already firmly in place, Alicia warms up

The company warms up

Alicia Torronteras and Miriam Kacerova warming up

Friedemann warming up before the performance

Alicia and Friedemann

Miriam

Alicia

Lovely swans

Alicia and Friedemann

Alicia and Friedemann

Alicia and Friedemann

Happy swans before the performance

Swans on break

Rocio Aleman and Miriam Kacerova just before the start of the fourth act

Swans!

Intense swans

Alicia and Friedemann

Lighthearted fun after the performance: Friedemann cuts up

Friedemann and Roman switch roles

Japan Tour / November 2018 (Day 4)

The day of the premiere is getting closer; the dress rehearsal of John Cranko’s Onegin with the fantastic Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra under our Music Director James Tuggles‘ baton runs smoothly. Our strong and expressive Kammertänzer Alicia Amatriain and Friedemann Vogel take on the leading roles. We can’t wait for opening night!

Photos: Roman Novitzky

So beautiful but never to be: one last moment of passion for Tatiana (Alicia) und Onegin (Friedemann)

Tatiana‘s writing utentsils lie in wait – lovingly prepared by our colleagues from the props department

Onegin (Friedemann) is bored and plays solitaire.

Tatiana tries to divine Onegin’s thoughts.

In the intermission, some dancers strike a pose for Roman Novitzky’s camera: here Alessandro Giaquinto

What would Onegin be without the two famous love letters? Tatiana (Alicia Amatriain) writes the fateful letter which will change many lives – not least her own!

Fabio Adorisio

Tatiana (Alicia) contemplates her love letter to Onegin

Tatiana (Alicia) und Onegin (Friedemann) at the beginning of their last pas de deux

Onegin (Friedemann Vogel) dances with Tatiana (Alicia) – he is not impressed by her letter

With all the elegance of St. Petersburg high society: Daniele Silingardi und Fernanda de Souza Lopes

Noan Alves, Paula Rezende und Matteo Miccini

EMAIL FROM… MADRID (ALICIA AMATRIAIN)

Alicia Amatriain during the award ceremony for El Ojo Crítico

Dear friends in Stuttgart,

last night was a really special one to me :)) I received the critics award El Ojo Crítico 2017. Every award is something special, but to receive this one in my home country Spain meant a lot to me. Short and sweet, see you all soon!

Greetings from Madrid
Alicia

Oh, and ps: I’m wearing a dress from my own collection – #AA